MARIA COHEN
Biography
Maria Cohen is a multidisciplinary artist based in the UK, working as a painter, writer, researcher, and curator. Her art practice delves into themes of sexuality and identity, employing a diverse range of media including oil painting, digital drawing, animation, and screen printing. Maria employs the image of a rabbit as both an alter-ego and a symbol of representing society.
Maria earned her BA in Fine Arts from the Moscow Academy of Arts before pursuing an MA in History & Philosophy of Art at the ICA Moscow. In September 2020, she participated in the 2nd Garage Triennial of Russian Contemporary Art. She later completed her MA in Fine Art Painting at Camberwell College of Arts in 2021, with support from the Art Ambassador Awards.
During her studies, Maria played a key role in organizing a curatorial project at the Copeland Gallery in London. Her work was subsequently selected for exhibitions at the South London Gallery and London Grads 2021 at the Saatchi Gallery. In September 2022, Maria collaborated with the fashion brand Urban Outfitters.
In 2022, she participated in a collective exhibition in Basel, supported by Voices of Culture, and curated the regroup Collective exhibition "Intimacy" at the Fitzrovia Gallery. In December 2022, Maria joined Empress Studios, with support from the Earl's Court Development Centre. Since then, she has been actively involved in local public events, including workshops, public talks, and Art Trail events such as Kensington Chelsea Art Week 2023.
As of February 2023, Maria curated the solo show 'Zero Gravity' in Basel, Switzerland, with support from the Voskhod Gallery. In May 2023, as a part of the collective "Undercurrents," she organized and hosted Artists Open Houses in Brighton. Maria's artworks are held in numerous private collections worldwide.
In 2022, Maria launched the project "Rabbits Choice," a platform designed for people to express their fears, overcome embarrassment, and break social boundaries to showcase their unique personalities and voices. The project aims to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and generate ideas for ambitious projects.
Currently, Maria is engaged in a collaborative project titled 'I always see stars above my head.' The performance focuses on the psychological and social struggles that female bodies face while seeking ways to express the vulnerabilities, frustrations, and resilience of the experience of living in a female body.
Artist Statement
I am exploring sexuality through my own identity. Feminism informs my identity as a woman; the politics of this allows me to be free to explore sexuality in my practice which is in itself the function of legacy.
I acknowledge and challenge aspects of sexuality within my own identity through various artistic mediums such as paintings, drawings, printmaking, performances, and animations.
I approach my practice as an experience, a physical and almost performative moment: every piece of art, every artistic gesture, or a manifest is a way to overcome embarrassment to accept vulnerability, weakness, and fragility.
Within the layers of my artistic exploration, I unravel the intricacies of sexuality, liberating myself from personal struggles through the strategic use of blots, strikes, and erasures. This transformative process manifests in various forms, be it expressive drawings, random collages, vibrant digital animations, striking graffiti, or dedicated pieces paying homage to old masters' paintings.
Within this practice, I unravel my sexual identity, navigating the boundaries and traps imposed by my Russian and Jewish background. Confronting fear, I become aware of the voice buried in anxiety and frustrations, acknowledging the hidden power within. The repetition in my practice releases and controls chaos, structuring ideas and thoughts.
My practice is being centered around a compelling and evocative concept. By challenging the viewer to confront and acknowledge their vulnerabilities, I am encouraging a deep and authentic engagement with my work. The emphasis on pushing boundaries and overcovering embarrassment suggests a desire to create a space for genuine self-expression and connection.