Maria Marinho Edgell's diverse practice spans painting, cutouts, and three-dimensional objects. Her most recent work weaves together multiple narratives, drawing from a deep engagement with science.
Her early works consisted of abstract, nearly monochromatic paintings on canvas. These compositions—textural blocks and slabs of colour applied with a palette knife—suggest personal memories and a spiritual sensibility.
Over time, Maria developed a fascination with science, particularly the mystery and wonder of the cosmos, which now lies at the heart of her painting practice. The duality in her work Black Dwarf, for example, references both the final stage of stellar evolution and a microscopic colony of bacteria—exploring the interconnectedness of scale, from the vastness of space to the microscopic.
In her recent cutout series, Topography of the Body, the artist represents vital human organs using layered paper cutouts, sculpted with a surgical knife. Built like topographic maps and sometimes combined with LED elements, each piece reflects narratives of evolution and survival. ​
Maria studied painting at Camberwell College of Art in London, U.K. In 1999, she temporarily relocated to Hong Kong, and now lives and works in London, U.K. Alongside her practice, she is also an educator. Her work has been exhibited in London, Hong Kong, and Portugal.