Inspired by French Impressionists, Maria Marino’s landscapes present a dialogue in color and light. Whether she is painting plein air from Monet’s garden in Giverny or the Salt Marshes of the Chesapeake Bay Maria’s compositions come to life in a bold spectrum of tones. Her careful balance of abstraction and observation charge her pieces with a lively sense of freshness.

Maria Marino was born in Washington DC and now lives and works in rural Maryland. Marino received her earliest encouragement from her mother, who fostered her love of drawing. Marino graduated with honors from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with a BFA in Interior Architecture, after which she forged a successful career as an interior designer.

She is a member of the National Arts Club in New York City founded in 1898, juried member of the Salmagundi Club 2012-2023, California Art Club (out-of-state artist juried member), Allied Artists of America NYC, Oil Painters of America, and the Artist Fellowship Inc. founded in 1859.  She received her Master Pastelist designation from the Pastel Society of America as well as serving as a Board member from 2014-2023. Her work has been published in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, the Pastel Journal as well as Pratique de Arts Magazine, Montlucon, France exhibition issue.

She has won numerous awards including the Salmagundi Club-Philip Isenberg Memorial award for Graphics- Salmagundi Club 138th Annual Members' Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, Sylvia Maria Glesman Members Floral exhibition, 3rd Place, Gold Medal for Pastel Dianne Bernhard- Allied Artists of America 97th Annual Exhibition, Art Spirit Foundation Silver Medal for Pastel- National Arts Club NY 115th EAM exhibition, California Art Club Excellence in Traditional Fine Arts Competition "Frost and Blossom”2024, Best in Show 7th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter National Plein Air Event, Tequesta, FL, and the Pastel Society of America 2019- Flora B Giffuni & Joseph V Giffuni Memorial Award.

Her paintings are in numerous private and corporate collections throughout the United States and abroad.

Memberships and Affiliations

• National Arts Club NYC - Exhibiting Artist Member

• California Art Club - Out-of-State Artist Juried Member

• Allied Artists of America - Elected Member

• Salmagundi Club- 2012 through 2023

• American Society of Marine Artists - Member

• Oil Painters of America - Member

• Artists Fellowship Inc. - Member

• Pastel Society of America - Master Pastelist designation, Board Member 2014 - 2023

Awards and Recognitions and Exhibitions

• 2024 Honorable Mention, California Art Club Excellence in Traditional Fine Arts

• 2022 Philip Isenberg Memorial Award for Graphics, Salmagundi Club 138th Annual Members’ Exhibition

• 2021 3rd Place, Salmagundi Club, Sylvia Maria Glesman Members Floral exhibition

• 2021 The Pauline Law Memorial Award for Graphics, Allied Artists of America

exhibit

• 2020 Best in Show, 7th Annual Lighthouse ArtCenter National Plein Air Event

• 2019 Pasit Pastellisti Italiani online exhibition -1st Place Landscape Award

• 2018 Allied Artists of America Award for Pastel- 105th Allied Artists of America exhibit

• 2018 Paint Annapolis Plein Air event, 2nd Place

• 2018 Premio Arte Miranda award, Pasit Pastellisti Italiani exhibition in Tivoli, ITALY

• 2017 1st Place 19th Annual Pastel 100 Landscape and Interior Category

• 2014 Art Spirit Foundation Silver Medal for Pastel- National Arts Club 113th EAM show

Selected Group Exhibitions

National Arts Club NYC-Grand Gallery, Trask Gallery, Salmagundi Club NYC, The Almenara Collection, Watergate Hotel collection, The Orangery of the Château de La Louvière- Montluçon, France, Château Abbaye du Valasse- The Great Hall, Gruchet-le-Valasse,, France, Scuderie Estensi Piazza Garibaldi Tivoli, Italy, Salon International du Pastel Giverny France, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Taiwan