Maria Walker is an artist who explores the human body and the experience of being human through her stitched work and sculptures. Her background in embroidery informs her contemporary practice, as textile process and technologies are forever present in her work. In particular stitch underpins much of her practice although the materials she uses to stitch can range from embroidering fine silks to metal wire. Cloth is no longer her only medium as she now uses a variety of materials to convey her message through her art.
Her initial interest in memory and narratives led her to recount stories of ordinary people in her textile work and installations using stitched text and images, and this has developed into a wide ranging art practice which has story telling and narratives at its centre.

After obtaining a MA in Fine Art she has developed her fine art practice and explores similar themes in her large and small-scale abstract sculptural work. Her art emerges from a combination of a process- led approach and relationship with materials, and her ongoing research and interest in the human condition. She plays with juxtapositions of objects and materials to tell stories through her artwork, which have been described as ‘visual poetry’.

Her recent artwork explored concerns such as, memory, dementia, migration, the transience of life, dreaming and feminism. Her personal reaction to the pandemic was a need to bear witness to the situation as it unfurled, and provide protection for other. Her collection of mixed media Protective Amulets and her Political Sound Bite work were made during the various UK Lockdowns.


Insta: @mariawalkerart
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/mariawalker.co.uk



Biography

MA in Fine Art University of Chester 2014

Solo Exhibitions and Group Shows

Prism, The Art Pavilion, London, Edgelands 2024
54 The Gallery, Mayfair, London Persephone Rising 2024
The House of Smalls, Chipping Camden, 2024
Profanity Embroidery Group, Thanet, 2024, Pillowtalk 2024
Prism, The Art Pavilion, London, Various 2021-2023
Phoenix, Willesden Gallery, London, SeenUnseen 2021
Prism, Hoxton Arches Gallery, London, 2018, 2019
Ordsall Hall, Salford, Interval 1.1, 2018
The Gallery at St Georges House, Bolton, Landmarks 2017
Sunny Bank Mills, West Yorkshire, Weave:fragments,2017
Cross Street Arts, Nasty Women Wigan, 2017
The Brindley, Runcorn, Landmarks and Boundaries, 2016
Saltaire Arts Trail, Open Houses, 2016
Mirabel Studios Manchester, Factory, 2016
A6 Dialogue at Cross Street Arts, Migrate, 2016
Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival, 2015
The Gallery at Bank Quay House,Warrington, All about Drawing, 2015
The Pyramid, Warrington, Testing Space, 2015
The Gallery at Bank Quay House, Host,2015
Cross Street Arts, The World of Glass, St Helens. 2015
Weaver Hall Museum, Northwich. Perspectives, 2015
All About Drawing, Cross Street Gallery, Standish.2015
MA Fine Art Show University of Chester October 2014
Cabinets of Curiosity. Liverpool Independents Biennial, Albert Dock 2014
Loop: Maria Walker and Estelle Woolley Chester Film Coop 2014
World War 1, Royal Exchange Craft Centre, Manchester 2014


Lightfoot Letters Exhibition
Clotworthy House, County Antrim, 2017
Salford Art Gallery 2016
Llandudno Library, Llandudno. 2014
Stanza Poetry Festival, St Andrews, Scotland, 2014
Waterside Art Centre, Sale, Manchester, 2013
Visual Arts Cheshire Gallery, Northwich, 2013
The Brindley, Runcorn, 2011

Residencies and Symposia

Virtual Art Residency, Cel Del Nord, Spain, 2021
Artist in Residence, Riverhousebarn, Walton on Thames, 2020
Honorary Curator, Cabinet of Curiosity Project, Warrington Museum, 2013
Artist is Residence Cross Street Arts Standish 2014
Talk at Textile Stories Symposium, University of Chester 2013
Artist Residency. East Cheshire Council,2010


Maria is a member of the international group PRISM Textile and Phoenix Contemporary Textiles. She also runs workshops and gives talks to groups.
Please contact her via the contact form on this website for more information.

All the images on this site are protected by copyright and are the property of Maria Walker.