Maria Owens is an abstract intuitive painter whose work draws from fragments of childhood and teenage memories—first formed in Spain and later in Denmark from the age of six. Her paintings often begin with a fleeting moment, a colour, or a feeling, and although abstract, many hold a quiet story beneath the surface. Colour plays a structural role in her work, acting as emotional atmosphere and anchor, while gestural lines and layered forms trace movement and memory across the canvas. Working intuitively, Maria builds and rebuilds her compositions through adding, scraping back, and revealing, embracing the act of painting as both puzzle and problem-solving. There is a constant tension between weight and lightness, density and openness, as each piece evolves toward resolving the feeling or story that first inspired it.

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With every painting sold, she donates to Trees that Count, ensuring a native tree is planted in the buyer’s region.

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GALLERY REPRESENTATION

2026–present — Galleri Tornby, Denmark

2026–present — Quiet Dog Gallery, Nelson, New Zealand
2025–present — The Art Precinct, Auckland, New Zealand
2025–present — ZeaYou Gallery, Taupō, New Zealand
2023–present — Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, New Zealand

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SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

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2026

• Works on Paper — Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, March

 

2025

• Between Worlds — Solo Exhibition, Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, July

• Studio to Wall III — Group Exhibition, Ponsonby, August

• Group Exhibition — Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, December

 

2024

• Follow the Line — Solo Exhibition, Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, July

• Auckland Art Show, Auckland, July

• Studio to Wall II — 250 Gallery, August

• Baradene Art Exhibition, August

• The Vessel — Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, February

• Dog Days — Group Exhibition, Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, January

• Brown Art School Level 4 End-of-Year Exhibition, December

 

2023

• A Piece of Me — Solo Exhibition, Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, June

• To Sit Beside You — Group Exhibition, Railway Street Gallery + Studio, Auckland, February

• Auckland Art Show, Auckland

• Studio to Wall I — 250 Gallery, September

• Kings College Art Exhibition, October

• Baradene Arts Exhibition, August

• Open Studios Waitākere, November

• North & South Magazine — Two-page feature, September

 

2022

• Kumeu Arts — Solo Exhibition, June

• Auckland Art Show — The Cloud, Auckland, May

• Titirangi Painters — Group Exhibition, August

• Kings College Exhibition, October

• Open Studios Waitākere, November

 

2021

• Three paintings featured on The Block, August

 

2020

• Upstairs Gallery — Summer Show, Sumner, December

• Depot Artspace — Group Exhibition, December

 

AWARDS

2024 — 2nd Prize, Waitākere Arts Members' Exhibition
2023 — Merit, Ceramic Award, Waitākere Art Exhibition

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2024 Brown Art School Level 4

2023  Wayfind Creative Programme & Mentoring

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