Maria Alquilar

Maria Alquilar was an American multidisciplinary artist. She was greatly inspired by her Russian and Spanish heritage. Combining elements from many cultures, her art emphasizes shared experiences and different paths to enlightenment. With very little formal training, Alquilar turned to art after the sudden death of her husband. She frequently includes plants and animals in her work to express the spiritual connection between humans and nature.

Seeking a more permanent medium than ceramic or paint, Alquilar began to produce metal sculptures during her residencies at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s Arts/Industry at Kohler Co.  During that time, she created a body of work called, Las Lloronas (The Weeping Women). Her sculptures were based on the tales of La Llorona, a legend is most closely associated with Mexico, but the story is similar to other Central and South America myths and connected tales of Eve and Lilith.

Her work is featured at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington DC, and in the collections of the Chase Manhattan Bank, New York; the San Francisco Arts Commission, California; and the Downey Museum, California. She was the founder of the Jennifer Pauls Gallery in Sacramento, California.