Saracino, Maria

Biography

Maria Saracino is a Canadian artist who creates figurative sculptures in polymer clay. Realistic yet whimsical, her work is about triggering a memory – a feeling – they stir something familiar for the audience. Her influences include Joe Fafard and Ron Mueck, but her biggest influence is Norman Rockwell. “Through sculpture I often channel his illustrative style of capturing candid moments in time.”

Discovering polymer clay resolved many of the frustrations Maria experienced with traditional art mediums. A former graphic artist, she discovered polymer clay in the mid 1990’s when it was first introduced as a figurative medium. “With polymer clay I can create dimension, realism, movement and emotion. It doesn’t require any special equipment and you have time to work on your sculpture without it drying out.” Over the last 20 years, Maria has honed her sculpting style at the same time that polymer developed from a craft product into a fine art medium. More than just sculpting, her work also includes textiles, wood and resin. Maria has been featured in 3 museum exhibits and in publications and galleries in Canada and the US and has won numerous awards and recognitions. In addition to her figurative sculptures and portrait commissions, Maria also teaches sculpting in polymer clay.