Biography
Peruvian native Maria Baraybar came to the United States at the age of 8 with white sand in her shoes and a head full of questions. The youngest of an immigrant family moving around in the US shaped a young Baraybar’s sensitivities. Trying to answer those questions through poetry, she found her self-expression through the Visual Arts. A coping mechanism soon turned into a lifeline. Eschewing conventional art school studies, Baraybar opted for broader education, embracing non-traditional channels to creativity.
Baraybar’s work has been featured in several NYC galleries and is currently on view at Brooklyn’s Nu Hotel. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, with her partner Allison Tray and their cats Julio and Gertie.
Artist Statement
The inspiration behind Artie’s Red Shoe Diaries came out of a personal situation. I’ve had to endure the difficult process of becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen all my life in the states. 20 yrs of hiding in the shadows with an unresolved immigration case left me with one choice: survival. Survival became more important than self, more important than happiness, more important than my dreams. Faced with my life’s own unique set of absurd trials and tribulations, I created an imaginary friend named Artie. This genderless character became my own life force. These unique experiences opened up the opportunity to document the often “peculiar” way of life in suburban America while exploring the juxtaposition of absurdity and meaning through travelogue note-type drawings.
Website
www.mariabaraybar.com
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