Shoreline Morning

Maria Tuttle

A graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati (BFA in Fine Arts), Maria Tuttle combines her artistic practice with a deep commitment to community engagement. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and an MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Cincinnati (UC), she has received grants, fellowships, and residencies supporting her artistic and social justice work over the past decade as a teaching artist and community organizer. Notably, she founded the Children’s Art Studio Richmond / Taller de Arte Para Niños (May 2023), an affiliate of Independent Arts & Media, to provide crucial arts education to historically excluded, low-income children and families in Richmond and nearby communities, based on the conviction that art is a fundamental right. From 2023 to 2024, Maria was a member and curatorial co-lead at the cooperative Gallery 2727 in Berkeley, CA, contributing to the “Secret Garden” (March, 2024) and “Gold” (September, 2024) exhibitions. She will join the Benicia Plein Air Gallery as an exhibiting artist in July 2025.

Resume (PDF)

Artist Resume

MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Category: Instructor ; Painter ; Visual Artist

Style: Visual Arts : Land/Cityscape ; Plein Air

Medium: Oil ; Watercolor

Artist Statement

Please provide a brief description of your creative process, motivations, and inspirations:

Growing up, art was my constant companion. As a child, I spent countless hours lost in creation, finding solace and expression through drawing and painting. This passion for art followed me when I immigrated to the United States from Colombia at a young age. Leaving everything familiar behind was challenging, but art became a bridge to my new home. Now, as a BIPOC / Colombian-American artist, educator, and writer, I understand the transformative power of art firsthand. My experience sketching and painting outdoors deepens my connection to the community, while my artistic foundation fuels my desire to inspire, educate, and empower others. My organization, the Children’s Art Studio Richmond, also embodies this vision. Both my work with children and my personal art practice are ways of sharing the love of art and its ability to heal, connect, and empower, particularly within communities of color.