025_M - Inkjet Print, Pen & Paint 16.5'' x 11.5'' Maria Trezzi’s training in Raku-style sculpture has had a major influence on her art. In Raku, the rough, burnt edges of pottery become an integral part of the beauty and truth of the piece. In a similar way, Maria’s visually lush collages and surreal dreamscapes reveal to us worlds of sensory details. With the frequent inclusion of found text and mainstream media images, these works reveal an entire universal whirlwind of discourse and imagery. Words from different sources are piled on top of each other, as if part of an imaginary linguistic landfill. Text seems to explode across Maria’s powerful canvases, and while they are obviously fueled by passionate beliefs, there is no sense of being lectured to. The focus of her work is visual beauty and the hope for balance and tranquility, a quality strongly present in these word-based images as well as her mysterious and enigmatic surreal landscapes. Although she comes from a family that has always been active in the arts, Maria’s work is strikingly original and not beholden to any tradition that has come before her. A desire to unearth long-lasting, true values in today’s media-fueled world is suggested by Maria’s work. Her visceral imagery challenges us to look at ourselves, our values, and our world.