MARIA JOSE BENVENUTO
María José Benvenuto studied visual arts at the Catholic University of Chile and gained a certificate in Industrial Design. She has exhibited solo and group shows in the main Galleries of Chile, and also participated in recognized worldwide art fairs (Scope Basel Switzerland and Aqua Art Miami, during Art Basel week).
Since her arrival to Sydney, Australia in 2018, she has been represented by M. Contemporary Gallery. Benvenuto is also represented by several galleries worldwide such as The Arx Gallery in London, Morton Contemporary in Philadelphia, Saisho Art in Madrid and Gallery2move in Belgium. Benvenuto was selected to design the entire ceiling at La Plume Paris located in the rooftop of Hotel Madame Reve.
Using gestural brushstrokes or stains across the medium, Benvenuto focuses on line and detail to build a narration of life she sees around.
Benvenuto wants to explore and create new imagery to navigate the current world. Working from the mind and using memories to shape her composition, Benvenuto connects with her audience through visual representation; a soft curve becoming a wave, or gestural mark-making turning into long grass dancing in the wind.
“As Benvenuto seeks out her connections, she invites her bodily response working across the canvas in a Pollock-esque manner. She engages an almost physical dance — an extension from the painter’s hand, built through action. With a palette of acrylics, ink, watercolour on linen or cotton, the artist works in large scale between the floor and the wall. Using her body to flick and work the paint or refocus on building depth in drips and layers; they are in motion together”
