Maria Antoniv Biography

Maria was born in Ukraine and spent much of her childhood in the picturesque surroundings of her town of Buchach. Her fondness for nature became the catalyst for her art. Her parents encouraged her artistic temperament and following high school, she attended Art College in the Chernivtci region, followed by Carpathian National University as a visual arts teacher.

Although Maria took pride in her teaching successes, her heart always belonged to the art of outdoor painting.

After moving to Canada, Maria graduated from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto, and pursued an animation career. Having worked on films such as “Gladiator” and “Babe: Pig in the City”, she decided to devote more time to her passion for painting. Maria’s love of the outdoors naturally propelled her to painting flora. She found that capturing true color, value, atmosphere and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation.

She has also discovered the importance of her studio time in union with her outdoor experiences and enjoys the challenges of both. Her love for painting has broadened her subject matter to include not only still life and nature landscapes, but also figurative and portrait works.

Maria has been featured in numerous art publications, is an active member of Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada, Women’s Art Association of Canada and a member of the Associates of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolours, Bromley Art Society (BAS), United Kingdom, Supporting Member of Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA).

Exhibitions

23.01.23-03.02.23 – «Горизонти/Orizzonti» Group Show. Lugano, Swirzerland.
2021 – Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto, “Skovoroda`s Universus”
2020 – Yorkville Public Library, Toronto, ON
2020 – Juried Show “SALON14”, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, ON
2020 – “CREATIVE SPIRIT”, Curated Group Show, WAAC, Toronto, ON
2019 – Valentine’s Bash, GStudio, Toronto, ON
2019 – “LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUL”, Group Show, Venice, Italy
2018 – International Art Show, Vernissage Culture Center. Chernivtci, Ukraine
2018 – Solo Show, Ripley Arts Centre, Bromley, UK
2018 – Solo Show, AUBG Gallery, London, UK
2018 – Solo Show, Toronto Botanical Garden, Toronto, ON
2018 – Group Show, Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago, IL
2018 – Juried Exhibition:”Paint Ontario 2018″, Lambton Heritage Museum, Grand Bend, ON
2018 – Solo Show, ACUA Gallery, Edmonton, AB
2017 – “An exposé of Canada’s provincial flowers”, Gallery Hittite, Toronto, ON
2017 – Juried Exhibition: “150 Years of Light in Canada”, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, ON
2017 – “An exposé of Canada’s provincial flowers”, Gallery Hittite, Toronto, ON
2016 – “Between Friends”, The Women’s Art Association of Canada, Toronto, ON
2016 – “Spring Chimes”, The Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Ukrainian Museum, Montreal, Quebec
2015 – III Triennial “Ukrainian Folk modern 2015”, Cultural Centre “Vernisage”, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
2015 – “Expression in Art”, St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, Oakville, ON
2015 – Oseredok Gallery, Shevchenko Bicentenary Exhibit, Winnipeg
2015 – “Ukrainian Folk Modern”, Biennale, Juried Show, Chernivtci, Ukraine
2013 – Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club ‘Gifts Made Easy’Show & Sale
2013 – 6x6x2013. Rochester Contemporary Art Center. Rochester, NY USA
2011 – Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists, KUMF, Toronto, ON
2010 – Permanent Rotating Exhibition, KUMF Gallery, Toronto, ON
2009 – “Flower Rhapsody”, Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists, KUMF, Toronto, ON
2009 – St. Eliyas, Brampton, ON
2009 – “Echoes of Trypillia”, Ottawa, ON
2008 – Christmas Stars, KUMF Gallery, Toronto, ON
2008 – Echoes of Trypillia, St. Vladimir Institute Gallery, Toronto, ON
2007 – Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists, KUMF, Toronto, ON
2007 – Mountain Brook Watercolor Association Art Show, Birmingham, USA
2007 – Cahawba Art Club Spring Art Show, Trussville, Alabama, USA, Awarded Second Place for watercolor “Summer”
2007 – Anniston Art Show, Anniston, Alabama, USA
2006 – Carrabelle Annual Riverfront Festival, Carrabelle, Florida USA
2006 – Palmerdale Art & Craft Show, Pinson, Alabama, USA
2005 – The Gallery Wall, Toronto, ON