Hunter & Folk Interview
Sydney-based painter María José Benvenuto skilfully manipulates abstract formations, inviting us into a textural journey of colour and composition that portrays the Australian environment.
Words: Georgie Ward I Photography: Josefina Vargas
Originally from Chile, María José Benvenuto paints her acrylic art from her Manly studio, with her works inspired by a changing world, she reflects her day-to-day experiences through her canvas.
From a young age, Maria has always had an artistic eye, ‘Being creative is in my soul, and my artworks totally represent this part of me’, she says.
Stemming from her love for the outdoors, her artwork is heavily inspired by mother nature. ‘When I’m really connected with nature, with my environment, I am in a state of freedom and peace, and that peace is what encourages me to paint, it’s the one that keeps me in deep connection with my paintings.’
The organic and fluid shapes she paints, while uniquely abstract and ambiguous, are inspired by many foliages, flowers, cliffs, lookouts, bush walks and ocean waves. ‘It is the imperfection of the shapes that I love, and what gives the spectator that sense of fluidity, of something that is not static but in constant movement.’
With the Australian environment being her main source of inspiration, her works utilise tones of blues, greens, yellows, magentas and white. Maria often adds pops of bright colour to more monochromatic pieces, to perfect the painting’s palette.
