Maria Lazarova Miteva, a Bulgarian artist, was born on April 5, 1968, in the vibrant city of Sofia. Her journey in the realm of art spans across various mediums and continents.
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In 1987, Maria graduated from the College of Performing and Screen Arts in Plovdiv, specializing in Theatrical Set and Costumes, Makeup, and Wigs. A foundation laid in the theatrical arts, a discipline that marries creativity with functionality, providing an early glimpse into the eclectic palette that would define Maria’s artistic career.
One of her beautiful works, St. Anna, measures 115/85 cm and is a one-of-a-kind creation crafted entirely by her hands, including the innovative technique she developed. She began by sculpting the prototype relief, creating a silicone mold, and using it to shape the relief with multiple layers of canvas and liquid primer. After mounting it on a board, she applied gilding and meticulously painted the faces and hands. Each icon is adorned with a unique, handmade decoration.
However, Maria’s artistic pursuits didn’t stop at the stage. In 1991, she delved into the ancient and revered art of icon painting, defending her master’s degree in the craft. The journey into iconography was not just an exploration of technique but a profound connection with tradition and spirituality.
Venturing beyond the canvas, Maria’s academic pursuits took an unexpected turn with studies in Business Administration at a private American college. A testament to her versatility, this divergence into the business world would later prove instrumental in shaping her career and promoting her art on a global scale.
The collaborative spirit of Maria found expression in joint icon exhibitions with her husband, Ivan Mitev, between 1992 and 1997. The exhibitions stretched across continents, with one in New York and three in Germany, hosted in the gallery of Hans Jürgen Ziegler in MÖSINGEN. This period marked not only a professional partnership but a shared journey in the world of artistic expression.
Maria’s icons transcended borders and graced international spaces, with exhibitions in the church of St. James in London in 2007 and in Belgium in 2003 and 2004, organized by Altera Gallery. Her creations found homes in private collections in Bulgaria, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA.
The pinnacle of Maria’s artistic achievement during this period was the altar for St. Timothy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, painted in 2021. This altar stands as a testament to her ability to infuse sacred spaces with a profound sense of spirituality through her art.
In the realm of public exposure, Maria embraced the digital age by establishing her art shop on Etsy in 2016 – MariaArtStore. The online platform serves as a window into her evolving artistic endeavors, where the public can witness the birth of new icons and altars. The shop also features the paintings of her son, Lazar Mitev.
As we navigate the vast expanse of Maria’s artistic journey, it becomes evident that her creations are not mere paintings; they are windows into the soul, portals that connect the tangible with the intangible, the earthly with the divine. Maria Lazarova Miteva’s art is a celebration of tradition, a dance with innovation, and a testament to the enduring power of creativity across borders and generations.
In Maria’s art, spartan elegance meets profound spirituality, creating a harmonious symphony that resonates far beyond the canvas. With each stroke of her brush, Maria Lazarova Miteva invites us to embark on a journey, not just through her creations but into the very essence of the human experience.
