Mara Santibanez

Born in Chile (1980), Mara Santibáñez is a visual artist and academic with a distinguished career in both fields. Since 2018, she has focused on contemporary landscape painting, redefining the concept of landscape as a construct influenced by social, cultural, and political dimensions. Through her works, she delves into the intricate web of power relations inherent in these spaces

Her paintings defy traditional notions of landscape, portraying scenes that are frequently perceived as soulless, dismembered, or overlooked. Through her artistic practice, she illuminates locations that have been devastated or rendered insignificant, transforming them into vibrant landscapes that enrich the local imaginary.

Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with a major in Painting and Master's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Chile. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Art at the Universidad de Playa Ancha.

She has exhibited her work in Chile and abroad in numerous group exhibitions and a dozen solo exhibitions, including 'Are You Happy, King Midas?' and 'Ruderal', both in Valparaíso last year. Additionally, she has curated national and international projects, such as 'Informe País' and the colloquium on drawing 'The Thinking Eye', involving artists and intellectuals from Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Spain, and Chile. Furthermore, she has participated in artistic residencies in Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia.