MARIA MIJARES is a contemporary realist painter working in New Jersey, known for conceptually ‘lived-out ‘ stories relayed in ‘psychedelic precision’ and public art.
She has exhibited internationally in museum, university, corporate, and alternative galleries. A retrospective exhibition at the MORRIS MUSEUM (2013) entitled “IMMORTAL STRUCTURES: Here and There After” was followed by a solo exhibit,“Two Ships Esperando” at Galeria Siboney in Santander, Spain.
Mijares studied at New England School of Art (Boston, MA) painting at Art Students League in Woodstock, NY, and earned a BA in Fine Art from Rutgers University. She was awarded fellowships from Puffin Foundation, Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation, Inc. and two from New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Mijares’ 4 large-scale porcelain enamel on steel murals, “Between Manhattan and Meadowlands” are installed at Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System’s Bergenline Avenue Station in Union City, NJ. Currently she is creating public art installations for the City of Worcester, MA and NJ Transit Market Street Bus Station (Paterson).
She has lectured at museums, schools, hospitals, and caregiver support groups.
Was 2022 a good year for you?
At this stage in life continued good health equals a great year! 2022?—all good!
What were some of the highlights in your art career?
After three years in the making, the installation of my public art project “DINERS: Then & Now” in Worcester, MA, was a major career highlight. Creating art that will be seen by so many—unintentional viewers—in permanent ‘exhibition’ totally satisfies my life goal. The process of developing a concept for a specific site is challenging on every level—and a great pleasure. Sharpened skills then apply to my own paintings.
What was the craziest thing that happened?
Surviving Hurricane Ian was the craziest experience I’ve had in a long time! Living through the aftermath tweaked my spirit, showing me again how I can problem solve my way out of anything. An art-life prepares one to make art-form out of everything.
What were some of the pitfalls?
Though I was aiming at several deadlines, the hour came and I had to surrender. I have realized that I tend to underestimate how labor intensive my style is. Yet, I cannot work another way. In the end—when I get to the end—I see the value of so much layering. Building my reality the hard way is not just my painting style—I go about all of life this way.
Did your art sell?
I sold several giclée prints in 2022.
Were you included in any shows?
I was included in Abend Gallery 31st Miniatures—ending in 2022.
Two paintings, “Veneration” and “Looking Down on George Street,” were included in “Birds Eye / Worms Eye View” Hamilton Street Gallery (Bound Brook, NJ).
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
In 2023 I will continue working on two paintings, “A Day in the Life of a Bus” for NJ Transit Paterson Bus Station—a public art project I was selected for seven years ago.
I hope to complete more of those paintings with countless hours already invested, ready them for exhibition and hook them up with love connections.