Maru

Maru is a self-taught artist/watercolorist born on May 26, 1997, in Kuwait. She returned to the Philippines to study and graduated in 2017. Maru became a full-time artist shortly after completing her education and is currently based in Davao City. Maru first exhibited in March 2019 at the Art Market, Abreeza and later at the Market Basket in Damosa, Davao City. She gives credit to her mentor, Nil G. Capinianes, for introducing her to other artists and galleries in the region. She has exhibited with the Bai Hinang, a group of Davao female artists at Art Portal – Gallery of Contemporary Art, Davao marking her first gallery exhibit. She also is part of a group of female artists to exhibit for Breast Cancer Awareness month at Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City and will have a solo exhibition at Morning Light Art Gallery in November 2019. Maru has sold work in collections in the Philippines, Canada, and the United States.“My works are mainly inspired by Japanese art and Japanese aesthetic. I work primarily with watercolors and incorporate mixed media such as ink and Japanese craft papers. I strive to paint colors that will bring life and passion to my works. My subjects are things I find fascinating and beautiful like felines, koi fish, snakes, and east Asian blooms. I recently started painting nudes incorporating the language of flowers as an inspiration as I struggle with my own body image”.