Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Behringer.
Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started taking an interest in curation when I dropped out of art school. I had landed an internship working in an artist’s studio, so I took the risk to leave school and work as much as I was needed. I quickly learned the inner workings of how an artist’s studio runs as well as how relationships with galleries are built and exhibitions are executed. From this internship, I was hired to co-direct a contemporary fine art gallery, and from there is where I grew my own practice and built my own brand around arts marketing and management.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I felt the weight of being a young Latino woman more than I ever had before when I started to make room for myself in the arts community. I dealt with sexism and an absence of Latino voices. I chose not to move forward or even apply for certain opportunities when it was clear my gender was the reason my ideas were being disregarded. I also felt it was harder to be heard in a sea of beige voices that weren’t being questioned or passed up on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I curate visual art exhibitions and work with galleries and artists on their social media and marketing campaigns.
I pride myself on being a great collaborator. Being a working artist can be a difficult and vulnerable job so it’s important for me to have an understanding of that and work alongside the artist. My goal is to represent their vision while giving my own expertise on how to best present work to reach that goal of an accessible and successful art show. With my background as a former Gallery Director and practicing artist, I bring a well-rounded understanding of visual and technical skills to the table.
I have also learned a lot from co-curating projects, bringing together multiple creative minds to bounce ideas off of and feel a greater reward from that collaboration. Some of my favorite exhibitions I have done were born from a conversation or idea that I had support in wanting to bring to fruition.
I think my voice and unique background inspire me to put together shows. I felt the need to prove myself more than once over the years in the Midwest community I am from, and people may not have always understood my intention, but feeling the support from the artists involved in each one of my shows and the galleries that hosted me always made it worth to continue working.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I have just recently become a resident of Los Angeles, so I have been taking this time to research galleries and attend art shows. I would love to hear from more locals on places and artists I need to see and meet. My goal is to continue networking and make more great art shows happen. I have loved the energy and new vibrations of visual artists here, so if anyone has an idea that’s been sitting on the shelf they want to see happen, let’s do it. I am open and excited to collaborate more.
Contact Info:
- Website: nocryinginartclub.com
- Instagram: @marbehringer
Image Credits
Brandon Walsh Maria Behringer
