Maria Santos is a Brazilian visual artist based in Switzerland. Her practice explores nature, perception and texture, with a particular interest in the details of the living world.
Her artistic journey spans more than two decades, with exhibitions and projects in Brazil and Europe, alongside academic research connecting art, education and digital technologies.
Her current project, Microcosmos, transforms fragments of nature observed through macro photography into large-scale paintings, exploring the dialogue between image, matter and tactile perception.
Microcosmos I
Mixed media on canvas · 90 × 110 cm · 2026
MICROCOSMOS I
Mixed media on canvas · 90 × 110 cm · 2026
An exploration of the hidden architecture of nature. Through enlarged organic forms, texture and materiality, the work invites the viewer to discover a microcosm that often remains unseen.
Microcosmos III
Mixed media on canvas · 110× 90 cm · 2026
MICROCOSMOS II
Mixed media on canvas · 90 × 110 cm · 2026
Inspired by the delicate architecture of a spider web covered in morning dew, this work explores the beauty of structures that often remain unnoticed. Through texture, light and enlarged scale, the ephemeral becomes visible and almost tangible.
2021–2022
In this series, I explore Brazilian wildlife as a way of reflecting on environmental preservation and the vulnerability of threatened species. Through painting, I seek to highlight the beauty and strength of these animals while drawing attention to the importance of protecting their natural habitats.
2023This series explores the emotional impact of domestic violence, moving between vulnerability, suffering and resilience. Through the human figure, the works reflect on experiences that are often lived in silence, while also addressing the strength involved in surviving, rebuilding and reclaiming one’s identity.
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