About the Cover Artist

Maria Sammartino has been painting and exhibiting her work for many years. Born into a family of artists in Philadelphia, Maria spent many years creating art for her own pleasure and wellbeing. In 2009, Maria was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which left her unable to continue her work as a certified ophthalmic assistant.

Upon leaving medicine, Maria found herself immersed in painting, writing, and editing. She has been a featured artist in local South Jersey and Philadelphia juried shows and exhibitions including the Perkins Center for the Arts, and The Plastic Club. Her work has been shown in monthly exhibits at both the Cherry Hill, NJ library and the Burlington County, NJ library galleries, where she has a permanent exhibition.

Maria is a member of The Plastic Club in Philadelphia and has won an award for her painting titled “Breakthrough,” shown here. She has also been awarded special recognition in the Light, Space and Time Online Gallery.

Maria presents the viewer with a challenge in self-described “imagined landscapes” that often defy rules of perspective and dimension. Her body of work is full of many different styles, and that is part of what makes them so original. Each painting is different from the next, and not easily described as “abstract” or “landscape” but both at the same time. She mixes her vibrant palette in what seems to be endless layers and texture, challenging the viewer to label or describe them easily.

Maria’s work can be viewed on her website www.mariasammartino.com