María Peña is a Colombian/Australian visual artist currently based in Melbourne.  She studied Bachelor of Fine Arts with major in painting and ceramics at the Art School Academia Superior de Artes de Bogotá and Doctorate of Fine Arts by research at RMIT University, School of Art in Melbourne. Her career has developed between Australia and Colombia through solo and collective shows, artist in residency programs and mural projects. Up to now she has participated in solo and collective shows in Colombia, Australia, Mexico, China, Italy, India, Argentina, New York and the United Arab Emirates. 

Peña’s Art and collaborative projects have represented Australia more than once overseas: Selected by MC Gallery and Res-artiste exhibition “Show your World” to represent Australia in NY, 2018; Selected by BienalSur international Contemporary Biennial of Buenos Aires with Ventana Collective 2017; invited to make part of the Collateral Projects of the Art Biennial kochi muzaris, India, 2015; awarded one of the winners for the 2017 Endeavour Award Vitrina de Arte acknowledged by the Alzate Avendaño Foundation and Ministry of Culture in Bogotá. Colombia; and sponsored by Abu Dhabi Art Hub, to represent Australia for the Australian Art Month in Abu Dhabi, UAE 2013.

Maria Peña’s art has a strong influence from sub-realism and magical realism ideas as well as referents from visual and cultural theory. She draws her inspiration from people, emotions and nature with the intention to evoke hope. She feels inspired by diversity of skin colour, languages and cultures and try to depict these elements into her art.