About My Work – Maria Lago
My journey as an artist spans more than four decades, across countries, techniques, and stages of life. I was born in Asturias, in northern Spain, not far from the Paleolithic caves that shaped my early imagination. From a young age, I felt a deep pull toward the symbolic, the sacred, and the primal act of creating. That connection has stayed with me ever since.
My work is tactile. I work with natural materials, burlap, clay, cement, pigment, paper, layering, stitching, and embedding them into surfaces that feel both personal and universal. Often, I incorporate fragments of older paintings into new pieces. This process of reusing and transforming speaks to the cycles I observe in nature and in myself. It’s like a kind of archaeology, digging through time, assembling memory into form.
I often return to a language of symbols, circles, molecular structures, and gestural marks. These forms come from somewhere beyond words. They belong to a space between the body and the cosmos, between history and presence. My work is deeply influenced by abstract expressionism, but also by ancient traditions of mark-making. It is both urban and timeless.
In a world of accelerating digital images and artificial intelligence, I feel a responsibility to return to the hand, the gesture, the mystery that lies in organic materials. I believe that art still has the power to connect us across cultures and generations, to speak to something older and deeper within us all.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to show my work across Europe and the U.S. My pieces live in private and institutional collections in Spain, Mexico, England, and the U.S. But for me, what matters most is the connection created when someone stands in front of my work and feels something beyond words.
Maria Lago - sobre mi trabajo
Mi trayectoria como artista abarca más de cuatro décadas, a través de países, técnicas y etapas de la vida. Nací en Asturias, en el norte de España, no lejos de las cuevas paleolíticas que modelaron mi imaginación temprana. Desde muy joven sentí una profunda atracción por lo simbólico, lo sagrado y el acto primigenio de la creación. Esa conexión ha permanecido conmigo desde entonces.
Mi trabajo es táctil. Trabajo con materiales naturales —arpillera, arcilla, cemento, pigmento, papel—, superponiéndolos, cosiéndolos e incrustándolos en superficies que se sienten tanto personales como universales. A menudo, incorporo fragmentos de pinturas más antiguas en piezas nuevas. Este proceso de reutilización y transformación habla de los ciclos que observo en la naturaleza y en mí misma. Es como una especie de arqueología: excavar a través del tiempo, ensamblando la memoria en formas concretas.
Suelo regresar a un lenguaje de símbolos, círculos, estructuras moleculares y trazos gestuales. Estas formas provienen de un lugar más allá de las palabras; pertenecen a un espacio entre el cuerpo y el cosmos, entre la historia y la presencia. Mi obra está profundamente influenciada por el expresionismo abstracto, pero también por las antiguas tradiciones del marcado de signos. Es a la vez urbana y atemporal.
En un mundo de imágenes digitales aceleradas e inteligencia artificial, siento la responsabilidad de regresar a la mano, al gesto, al misterio que reside en los materiales orgánicos. Creo que el arte todavía tiene el poder de conectarnos a través de culturas y generaciones, de hablarle a algo más antiguo y profundo dentro de todos nosotros.
A lo largo de los años, he tenido la fortuna de mostrar mi trabajo en Europa y los Estados Unidos. Mis piezas viven en colecciones privadas e institucionales en España, México, Inglaterra y los EE. UU. Pero para mí, lo que más importa es la conexión que se crea cuando alguien se para frente a mi obra y siente algo más allá de las palabras.
— Maria Lago
Maria Lago
Maria lago was born in Spain and lives in Beacon, New York
Education
1983 Universidad Complutense, Madrid , Spain
1984 Circulo de Bellas Artes , Madrid , Spain
1987 Parsons School of Fine Arts, New York, NY
Publications
2024 Hudson Valley Magazine, Maria Lago abstract work, River Reflections,Grit Gallery,NY
2020 The Highlands Current, From Spain to Main by Allison Rooney, NY
2017 Instituto Cervantes, 30 years retrospective, New York, NY
2017 El Comercio, Asturias, 30 años retrospectiva-pinturas y esculturas, Spain
2017 La Nueva España,Maria Lago in The Cervantes Institute in NY , Asturias, Spain
2017 Poughkeepsie Journal, Latin American art, NY
2015 Hudson Valley Press, The Art work of Maria Lago by Jennifer L.Warren, NY
2014 Kosmos Journal, Co.Creating the new Civilization
2014 Beacon Press, Exhibit Honor Women Artists,Lago "The Cosmic Serpent"
2014 Poughkeepsie Journal, Creative Contributions by Women, by Linda MarstonReid
2014 The Philipstown Paper- Women Artists at the Howland by Kevin E. Foley, NY
2012 ART-TALK Magazine, The Exodus paintings
2012 The Philipstown Paper- About the Exodus Paintings
2011 Chronogam Magazine, Hudson Valley, NY
2011 Asturias daily News, La Nueva España, Asturias, Spain
2008 Fine Arts America "Etchings and Solar Plates Today"
2008 The Rivertowns Enterprise by Judith Doolin Spikes, New York
2008 Catalogue for "The Westchester Biennial ", New York
2007 Asturias daily News, La Nueva España, Asturias, Spain
2006 The New York Sun Newspaper, Solo Show at the NAWA Gallery, New York
2005 Catalogue review by W. Zimmer, contributing critic for The New York Times
2001 Hispanic Heritage Month, by Beatriz de la Mora, Curator, New York
2000 Westchester County Weekly, Westchester, NY
1995 Review for the international exhibition, Winter Olympic Museum, lake Placid, NY
1995 New York Newsday by Jonathan Fine , New York
1993 The Brooklyn Arts Council, Arts Calendar, Brooklyn, New York
1992 V Bienal Nacional de Pintura “La carbonera”, Asturias, Spain
1992 Mujeres Artistas del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
1991 Women’s diverse Reflections, Women’s week, Tallahassee, Florida
1991 Manhattan Arts, Artist in the 90”S by Marylyn Becker, New York
1991 Asturias daily News, Hoja De Lunes, Asturias, Spain
1989 Art Business News, New York
1989 Catalogue for “Soho in deSota”, Florida
1989 Tallahassee democrat news by Betty Rubenstein, Tallahassee, Florida
1989 Artspeak ‘The Power and Passion” by Claude LeSue, New York
1988 Consulado General de España, B C, New York
1987 Daily Newspaper, El Correo de Asturias, Asturias, Spain
1987 Noticias Del Mundo by David Boitano, New York
1987 Catalogue for exhibition International Year of the Woman, New York
Individual Exhibitions
2024 Grit Gallery, River Reflections, Newburgh, NY
2022 The abstract work of Maria Lago, Beacon, NY
2020 Gallery at The Falcon, The Ideographic paintings, Marlboro, NY
2017 30 years Retrospective,Sculptures and paintings, Instituto Cervantes, New York, NY
2017 Maria Lago Retrospective, One Main St, Beacon,NY
2016 The Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation, New York, NY
2015 Studio 502, the Wanderers, Beacon, NY
2014 The Falcon, Marlboro, NY
2013 Studio 502, Between Birches/Entre Abedules, Beacon, NY
2013 Studio 502, Journey into Art, Beacon, NY
2012 Studio 502, Brain on fire, Beacon, NY
2012 Studio 502, The Exodus paintings, Beacon, NY
2012 Rhinebeck Bank, Wappinger Falls, NY
2011 Gallery on Cedar, Dobb Ferry, NY
2011 Studio502, Planets and Landscapes, Beacon, NY
2010 Centro Español Manhattan, New York
2009 Sala de Arte del ayuntamiento de Viveiro, Galicia, Spain
2008 Martucci Gallery, Irvington, NY
2008 National Association of Women Artists, New York, NY
2005 Sala de Exposiciones BBVA, Oviedo, Spain
2005 Chelsea Pier Sixty, New York, NY
2004 Public Library, Harrison, NY
2003 Sound Federal Bank, Cos Cob, CT
2003 The Bronxville Public Library, Bronxville, NY
1997 The Greenwich Arts Center, Greenwich, CT
1997 The Chase Manhattan Bank, Brooklyn, NY
1991 The Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY
1989 Straus Gallery, New York, NY
1988 Ledo Gallery, New York, NY
Collective Exhibitions
2024 Mother Earth, The Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation, New York, NY
2022 The Howland Cultural Center, 100th Anniversary of Woman Suffrage
2018 I’m immigrant, Instituto Cervantes, New York, NY
2017 The Howland Cultural Center, Hudson Valley artists, Beacon,NY
2016 The Saunders art project, Collaborative Concepts, Garrison, NY
2015 The Howland Cultural Art Center, Hispanic Heritage, Beacon, NY
2015 Theo Ganz Studio, Beacon, NY
2014 Beacon CD Show, Beacon, NY
2014 Multi-Media Art Expo, The Fourth Universalis Society, New York
2014 Hudson Valley Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
2014 The Howland Cultural Art Center, Women Artists, Beacon, NY
2013 National Juries Art Show, Wide Open, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Centro Español de Manhattan, En Torno a las Mujeres, New York
2012 Theo Ganz Studio, Summer Blues, Beacon, NY
2011 Exhibition Two Colors, Chashama Gallery, New York
2010 Spanish Artists without Borders, Centro Español, New York
2010 Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Langreo, Asturias, Spain
2009 Gallería de Arte Van Dyck, Gijón, Asturias, Spain
2008 Brooklyn Artists GYM Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2008 The Westchester Biennial, the College of New Rochelle, New York
2007 Robert Blackburn Printmaking, New Printings, Solar Plates, New York
2005 Merrill Lynch-Hispanic Heritage, World Financial Center, NY
2005 Merrill Lynch, Princeton, NJ
2005 Chelsea Pier Sixty, New York, NY
2003 Old Greenwich Art Center, Old Greenwich, CT
2001 The Westchester Arts Council, White Plains, NY
2000 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum, Lake Placid, NY
1998 The Art Students League, New York
1998 CNS Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1997 Pier Show IV, Brooklyn, NY
1997 CNS Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1996 Pier Show III, Brooklyn, NY
1993 Art Windows Gallery, Chicago, IL
1993 V Biennale Nacional, Asturias, Spain
1993 Barbara Gibson Gallery, Nyack, NY
1992 Sala Baron II, Oviedo, Spain
1992 Tribeca Gallery, New York, NY
1992 Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas
1991 Caja de Ahorros de Asturias, La Felguera, Spain
1991 A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY
1990 The Art Students League, New York
1990 The Heckscher Museum, Huntington, NY
1989 The Tallahassee Gallery, Tallahassee, FL
1989 Straus Gallery, New York, NY
1988 Helio Gallery, East Village, New York, NY
1988 Avanian Gallery,, New York, NY 1988 Ward-Lawrence Gallery, New York, NY
1988 Caja de Ahorros de Asturias, La Felguera, Spain
1988 Irv Fischer Gallery, Detroit, MI
1987 Gallery Picasso Casa de Espana, New York, NY