Maria Petroff is a self-taught figurative artist living between two countries: Russia and Canada. Originally from Moscow, Maria moved to Canada in 2009 to study Business Administration at the University of Quebec in Montreal. The artistic flair of the «North American Montmartre» helped the future artist get back to her childhood passion – painting. Shortly after finishing her studies, Maria decided to pursue a career in art. 

Maria defines her artistic style as critical realism. She likes to paint people who marked our history whether they are politicians, scientists, artists, philosophers or fictional characters. The artist gets inspired by today’s world events, trying to thoroughly study the other non-official side of the story.  Digging deep into history makes her come up with the subjects for paintings that depict long forgotten historical events and draw parallel with the present. Most of Maria’s paintings are spiced up with light humor with no intention to offend anyone. 

Maria takes an active part in international art contests and exhibitions. The artist created book covers for a renowned author and economist, V. Katasonov. Recently one of her paintings was featured in the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche. The artist is represented by Kyo Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia and Gabriel Fine Arts Gallery, London, UK.

Upcoming & Past Exhibitions

  •  Art Revolution Taipei 2024, Taipei, Taiwan / 26 – 28 April 2024

  • Qatar International Art Festival, Expo DOHA, Qatar / 20 – 25 November 2023
  • London Art Biennale 2023, London, UK / 26 – 30 July 2023
  • Art Revolution Taipei 2023, Taipei, Taiwan / 5 – 8 May 2023
  • Group exhibition in the Museum of contemporary art “Artmuza”, Saint-Petersburg, Russia / December 2022 – March 2023
  • Madrid Station Exhibition, Madrid, Spain / 1 – 28 February 2023
  • Aqua Art Miami (Gabriel Fine Arts Gallery)  / November 30 – December 4 2022
  • Exhibition “Visual Culture 2022” / The International Symposium for Visual Culture at CICA Museum, Korea March-April 2022
  • The Other Art Fair Virtual Editions, Global / November 2021
  • Group Exhibition “Family Russian Soul”, Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve, Moscow / July-August 2021
  • Amsterdam International Art Fair, Beurs van Berlage / August 2017