NAME: MARIA ONYEGBULE
BIRTH PLACE: BIRMINGHAM - UK
BIRTH DATE: 4.4.54
BIOGRAPHY
MARIA ONYEGBULE
BA (Hons) Art & Design – University Of Central England (UCE)
PGCE Post Grad in Education - Wolverhampton University
Maria was born in Birmingham, UK. Raised in an African/Italian family environment (African father, Italian Mother). She began her art studies in 1970 at the Bournville School of Art. She then went on to study Fashion/costume and Textiles, but later resumed her studies of fine arts.
Throughout her career as an artist, Maria has exhibited her work, worked in collaboration with other artists and co-ordinated arts community based projects. She has taught a range of art subjects, within schools, colleges and University level. Since graduating with Honours from The University of Central England in 1999 she has developed her working practices within a broader context, such as: Paintings, Textiles and 3D.
Maria draws her inspiration from many different sources: Travel, Literature and more personal issues. Her new body of work is inspired by her own cultural heritage, including her travels through Africa and the diverse African culture.
Her experiences of Africa are not just as a traveller but also as a resident, living with the people and their culture as an African. Her own colourful diverse family heritage inspires her work and working practices.
A freelance artist working from her studio in Birmingham. She is also a Visiting Lecturer at the Walsall college of Art teaching Drawing, Painting and Printmaking.
ARTISTS COMMENT
Living abroad has influenced my use of colour,especially the colours of Africa.
My work is personal in some respect and rooted very deeply in my African heritage. I'm exploring my own self-identity through art my father being African and my mother Italian I feel I have a rich heritage and diverse background. My work interprets form, texture,decoration,pattern design and colour within the African invironment. I also focus on the simple everyday life and culture of the people and their surroundings.
African art is neither strictly traditional or western in style, rather there is a fusion of elements transending time and place. I explore this concept in my work. But in short my work shows a cultural diversity, my cultural diversity and that of Africa.
Mediums used; Painting(oil on
canvas),Textiles,Drawing
and 3D.
