Know-it-all Print

Maria Ansh (b. 1992, Moscow, Russia) is an artist living and working in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She works with oil on canvas and oil pastel on abrasive paper. In her work, she explores themes of identity, memory, and the connection between humans and nature. For her, art is a way to process experiences and preserve memories. She was involved in graffiti for ten years before earning a degree in graphic design, though she has always preferred painting. Her practice revolves around three series. In "Portraits", she explores the complexity of human nature, creating collective images inspired by literature, photography, and real-life stories. "Village" is a nostalgic reflection on childhood memories, filled with warmth and a sense of comfort. In "Water Colors", the artist studies natural forms, rhythms, and the interaction of light and space. In 2015, Ansh earned a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the Moscow Humanitarian-Technical Academy. In 2020, the state television channel Kultura interviewed her at the "Labyrinth of Naïve" exhibition at the Artplay Design Center. From 2021 to 2022, she participated in Winwin art fairs at the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art. Her art is a search for balance between reality and the inner world, between humans and nature, between memory and the present.