BIO/CURRICULUM VITAE
SELECT SOLO/TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
Maria Schechter co-creates with the natural world using living materials, mycelium composites, and plant based palettes. She was born in Pasadena, California and raised by her Grandparents who were both artists. Maria is an American artist and is based in Bloomington, Indiana. She previously lived in New York City, Los Angeles, Bangkok, and Heidelberg, Germany. Maria is a first-generation college graduate, who was nominated for a MacArthur Award at the age of 21 for her development of What-is-Art-What-is-Sound, an international arts collective turned non-profit founded in 13 countries and 28 cities. The German Christian Mystic, Hildegard of Bingen has been an influence in her work since the 1990’s. She is also inspired by the PNW Mystics, Symbolists, Spiritualists and work by artists such as Georgiana Houghton. The botanical palettes she develops and works with are informed by the scribes of illuminated manuscripts and extensive and on-going research. She develops workshops and creates community-based projects that bring community closer to the natural world. Her recent work showcased with the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens in Muncie, Indiana in 2023 and 2024. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Art from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She initiated graduate work with New York University and completed a master degree from Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany. She has been published in Eluxe Magazine, The Ecological Citizen, Nature Evolve Magazine, and many others since 1997. She has exhibited with the University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany, Michigan State University, the Seattle Art Museum, the Triton Museum and is currently on exhibit with the Anderson Museum of Art in Anderson, Indiana in a group exhibition Open Space: Art About the Land.
Education
Maria Schechter
RESUME
Schiller International University, Heidelberg, Germany
Master in International Business Management, thesis focus Cause-Related Marketing
2007-2009
New York University, New York, NY
Masters, Visual Art Administration.
Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Design
Goethe Institute, Goethe-Institut Mannheim Sprachschule
2006-2007
1994-1998
2002-2003
Select Exhibitions
Anderson Museum, "Open Space: Art About the Land, " November 2 - January 5rh, Anderson, IN, group
The Venue, Gallery Representation, Bloomington, IN
Waldron Arts Center, " Up Close: Blooming Earth", August 2nd - September, Bloomington, IN, solo
Hamilton Public Library East, Ignite, "24 Blooms & 24 Recipes", August - October, Fishers, IN, solo
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, "The 34th Annual Juried Art Show", March-May, Muncie, IN, group
Hamilton Public Library East, Ignite, 'The 700's' February-April, Fishers, IN group
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, TN, "Gatekeepers Returns to Earth", January, Gatlinburg, TN, group
Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, "Open Space: Art About the Land", January, Muncie, IN, group
2025
2024
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, "Degrees of Commitment: Climate, Ecosystems, and Society",
September - December, Gatlinburg, TN, group
University of Applied Sciences, "Captcha Design Festival" September, Mannheim, Germany, group.
City of Bloomington, "Black e Brown Arts Festival", July, Bloomington, IN, group
Palo Alto City Library, "Enchanted Garden", June - July, Palo Alto, CA, solo
Bloomington City Hall, "Eco-Heroes Contest, May, Bloomington, IN, group
Michigan State University-Lansing, Public Media Center, "Creativity in The Time of Covid-19, March-April, group
Las Laguna Art Gallery, "Climate Changing", February - March, Laguna Beach, CA, group
Las Laguna Art Gallery, "Botanical", January - March, Laguna Beach, CA, group
Studio Alchemy Gallery, "Roots", November, Indianapolis, IN, group
2023
Radical Mycology Convergence, "MushLove", October, Portland, OR, group
EcoAware Gallery, "Dispose to Reuse", India, group
Sacramento County Board of Chambers, "Women of Courage", January-July, Sacramento, CA, solo
Las Laguna Art Gallery, "Botanical Art and Illustration", December, Laguna Beach, CA, group
Blue Line Arts, "Members Medley", September, Sacramento, CA, group
Women Soaring Project, "Women Suffragists", November, New York, NY, group
Triton Museum, "Covid-19: Life in a Pandemic", Online Pocket Exhibition, Santa Clara, CA, group
2022
2021
2020
Triton Museum, "We Can't Breath", Online Pocket Exhibition, Santa Clara, CA, group
Abrams Claghorn Gallery,"The Ground Upon Which We Stand", Albany, CA, group
Palo Alto Art Center, "Happy Place", Palo Alto, CA, group
White Box Annex, Gut Box Art Collective, New York, NY, group
Seattle Art Museum, Employee Exhibition, Seattle, WA, group
Agora Gallery, New York, NY, group
Fisher Gallery, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA, group
2004
2001
1998
1997
Oculus Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA, group
Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA, group
Select Grants & Awards
Hamilton Public Library East, Ignite Studio, won a solo exhibition, Fishers, IN, Solo
Hamilton Public Library East, Ignite Studio, The 700's, First Place, Fishers, IN, group
Artist Achievement Award, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Eco-Heroes Art Contest, Second Place, presented by the City of Bloomington, Office of the Mayor and Environmental Commission, Bloomington, IN
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant, New York, NY
16lb. donation of Mycelium by Ecovative, New York, NY
Arts and Accessibility Grant, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Center for Cultural Innovation, Grant,Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic Fungi Global Summit, Scholarship, Los Angeles, CA
Schiller International University, Benjamin Franklin Award, Heidelberg, Germany
Goethe Institute, Grant/Kulturemittlerin (cultural liaison), New York, NY
MacArthur Award Nominee, Seattle, WA
2024
2023
2022
2021
2007
2004
2001
TEACHING
Yale University: Teacher Leadership Program
The Teacher Leadership Program is a free, one-hour workshop on Zoom for educators of all levels and disciplines that meets at 4:00 pm on the first Thursday of the month throughout the academic year. The sessions are led by Jessica Sack, the Jan and Frederick Mayer Curator of Public Education; Wurtele Gallery Teachers; and Education Department staff. In this program, educators explore innovative ways to connect their curricula and interest in art with the Yale University Art Gallery’s collection. The sessions also address online and in-person teaching techniques.
2022-present
2024
Hamilton Public Library East, "Youth Botanical Workshop": This was a two hour workshop. We first discussed and reviewed images from cave paintings and heirogliyphs, using our own earth pigments developed our first eco-art project using avocado, blueberry and onion. At the library in the Ignite Studio on Saturday, August 31st.
Hamilton Public Library East, "Adult Botanical Workshop": This was a two hour workshop and we processed avocado into a dye together at the library in the Ignite Studio on Saturday, August 24th.
2023
The FAR Center on Contemporary Art, "Botanical Workshop": This was a three hour, adult workshop: Mycelium as a Medium, The Importance of Trees and Botanical palettes. Workshop sponsored by The FAR, North Spore and Rainbow (vegan) Donuts.
The FAR Center on Contemporary Art, "Birds in Space": This was a one hour, youth workshop: Inspired by Romanian sculptor Brancusi.
Studio Alchemy Gallery, "Mycelium as a Medium, The Importance of Trees and Botanical Palettes": This was a three hour, adult workshop. January 29th.
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Teacher Training, (E.S.L) Emotional, Social, Learning
2021
Online instruction: Teaching; drawing, oil painting and art History
Palo Alto Arts Center, Arts Instructor, City of Palo Alto, CA
2020 -2021
2020
Affiliations
National Society of Arts and Letters, Panel Judge for the 2025 National Society of Arts and Letters Visual Arts Competition
Bloomington Arts Commission, Reader for Emerging Artists Grants, Bloomington, IN
Women's Caucus on Art, Member, Redwood City, CA
Homeless Garden Project, Board Member, Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Mountain Arts Center, Board Training, Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz Arts Council, Panel Speaker & Art Marketing Trainer, Santa Cruz, CA
Founder, Cultured Social LLC
Arts Marketing & Representation
Co-Founder of What Is Art-What Is Sound, Mannheim, Germany
2025
2024
2019-2020
2016
2018
2015
2009-2019
2000-2005