Maria Zielinska grew up in Poland. Her interest in nature and art was inspired by spending most of her childhood outdoors in small town. Town- Wadowice was surrounded by beautiful mountains and the river.

Her educational background in the arts began with studies at the High School of Fine Arts in Bielsko-Biała, and continued at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, Poland. While she attended what are generally prestigious and highly-rated schools in Europe, her best education definitely arose in practice- by working in different art fields such as publishing, design, and through various gallery representations. She has been painting full-time most of her life as a profession, but her passion for creating art has helped her greatly throughout countless areas of her life. She has been exhibiting throughout US, Europe, and recited numerous recognitions over the last few decades.

Maria’s journey to this country was the most defining and life-altering stories. Shortly after her arrival in the US, the political situation back home in Poland imploded. Possibly of returning become uncertain. She was stranded in the new world, but it was her good education and art that helped her get by. After 5 years she married, and giving birth of her son was the best fruit of her life.

Maria is still painting and sculpting. Elements of Polish culture are deeply rooted in her and her artwork. But what of herself comes out in her work goes beyond that- Catholic values and life experience permeate. Values, that convinced her in taking a teaching and art instructing positions at schools and Kimball Art Center in Park City. She is a part time faculty  from the time of opening the Chesterton Academy in Utah.

Maria’s motto is:  Despite of use of different subjects in our artwork, I believe the artist always “ comes out” because what we create is who we are.