Maria Valverde

Often referred to by her patrons as the Frida Kahlo of Nova Scotia , Valverde is a visual artist who draws inspiration from her natural environment as well as from her Spanish heritage. People figure prominently in Valverde’s original oil paintings as do endangered species and organic vegetative motifs. In her portraits it is not unusual for the two subjects to intertwine in rich, colourful and rhythmic compositions that express a love of humanity and of nature.

Maria Valverde continues to explore the use of portraiture in relationship to cultural identity in Landscapes, Seascapes and Portraits in Nature. In three key works in this exhibit she merges self portraits with the faces of other persons. 

Says Valverde, 

“I began by embracing the west coast of Canada by painting Emily Carr’s portrait merged with my own and added pine trees coming up from her bosom… did another painting celebrating the east coast with the same merger idea using Mary Queen of Scots and added a peregrine falcon…this bird has recently been removed from our endangered list!”  

Similarly she painted a portrait of Frida Kahlo merging this image with her own face. This painting also contains many monarch butterflies.

Maria Valverde has studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and Concordia University . Her award-winning work is collected nationally and internationally. She has appeared on CTV, CBC, Global and ASN television and reviews and articles about her artwork appear frequently.

Portrait commissions are accepted and start at $1000.00. plus traveling expenses. Please contact the gallery for further details.