Interview With Maria Krasnopolsky, Artist

Maria Krasnoplosky is a New York based artist involved in Waste Reduction Art Project (WRAP); where art, sustainability, and innovation converge to shape a brighter world. Among other things, she is involved with environmental causes and attempts to bring awareness to botanical catastrophes. In her oil paintings, Maria sparks a discussion around loss, the beauty of nature, environmental awareness and memento mori.

 

1. What was the catalyst to you becoming an artist?
I painted as far back as I can recall. My grandfather, whom I never met, was a famous artist in the former USSR, and I grew up surrounded by arts and culture. I think I truly felt I could call myself an artist was when I realized I had something to say, and a decent way of saying it through art.

2. How did you get involved with The Waste Reduction Art Project and tell us more about this initiative.
I met the founder of WRAP, Yana Maor Nigen at a pop-up gallery event in NY where my art was exhibited. She told me about her initiative, I loved the work that she does and she loved my art, and we decided to collaboration. So far, I was part of Basel Miami and a Sustainability event in NYC with WRAP. They do wonderful work in trying to help our planet create sustainable ways to preserve our environment. I support this cause whole-heartedly and do what I can to get involved.

3. When did you begin painting your Eulogy of Flora Series and what was the inspiration?
During WRAP Art Basel Miami, I was ‘voluntold’ to do a live painting. I wanted a subject on sustainability, but something a tad more nuanced, that hasn’t been done before. I then realized that everyone knows about extinct animals but not many are concerned with plants, trees and flowers disappearing. That topic begun to fascinate me and as I started doing research, I realized the scope of this quiet biological catastrophe and decided I’d like to bring awareness in the best way I can. It is a homage to commemorate these beautiful creations that are gone.

4. Tell us about your painting Silphium.
Silphium disappeared in first century BC. Was used for food, medicine, and potentially birth control- many merchants became rich selling silphium across the Mediterranean, but its popularity was its downfall.

5. Tell us about your painting Chocolate Cosmos.
Chocolate Cosmos habitat was cleared for urbanization and was wiped out due to ecological changes.

6. Tell us about your painting Cry Violet.
Cry Violet went extinct in the 50’ due to over picking by enthusiastic botanists and quarrying in its native limestone habitat.

7. How many extinct flowers do you intend to paint in your Eulogy of Flora Series?
About 6 or 7.

8. Where have you and where will you exhibit these series?
Thus far at the sustainability event hosted by WRAP. It will also be up for a few months at the America at 250 – A Collective Exhibition at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum.

9. Anything else you would like to tell us.
I think that beauty has an aesthetic value that it important to recognize. Eulogy for Flora is an example of how we are so blind to the disappearance of living things because we don’t see an immediate or commercial value in them, so they don’t seem to matter. I’d like to bring awareness to those- things that are lost and are beautiful.

10. How can people reach you?
My website or Instagram - Mariakrasart.com | @Maria_Kras_Art