Biography: “By now you know my name is Maria Laureno and I am an Illustrator and Designer. Here’s what you may not know… Originally from Baltimore, Maryland home of Old Bay and Blue crabs. Graduated with a BFA from Ringling College of Art and Design in 2016. Moved from Cleveland to Chicago, from American Greetings to Camping World working as a Designer. By day – I am concepting, art directing, and designing campaigns at Camping World. By night – I am painting, printing, and posting watercolors through my side hustle: MariaMade.”
Website: https://www.mariamadeart.com/
Date Acquired: March 30, 2023
Location Acquired: A Very Serious Gallery
Provenance: Purchased from A Very Serious Gallery in Chicago, at the closing of Maria’s first solo exhibition, “Landscape of Moments” (March 8-March 30, 2024). This piece was not part of the show, but available through the gallery. This artwork has a Certificate of Authenticity from the artist.
Type: Watercolor
Size: 5″ x 7″
Description: Maria Laureno’s To-Go Order is a 2023 watercolor, depicting a receipt. Initially appearing to be a simple black and white design, other subtle hues are visible when the image is studied more closely.
Personal Connection: None. I first saw Maria’s work at A Very Serious Gallery’s “The Super Secret Supper Club” group exhibition (October 20, 2023 – November 18, 2023). I was instantly intrigued by her imagery, the view from above the depicted objects, and the great use of the white background to make everything pop. That her work is watercolors, a difficult medium, made them all the more impressive.
- John F. Stenvall, Chicago Scene: Car Repair, 1940
- Seymour Rosofsky, Man on a Theatre Stage, 1965
- Seymour Rosofsky, Figure Coming Through the Window, 1976
For a full list of the Chicago artists in the collection, by decade, please head over to the Chicago Area Artwork in the Collection page.
Art Hoard 
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