Anna Maria was born in Poland on the 21st of March 1976 to a wealthy, but slightly dysfunctional, family.
Her mother migrated to Australia and she followed two years later as a young girl of 14.
Although having no knowledge of English she was eager to learn and started High School two months after her arrival.
She found her lack of English made it very difficult and, unfortunately, suffered bullying and teasing because of this.
To make things worse her mother had become somewhat selfish and careless leaving Anna Maria to make her own decisions regarding her life.
She decided to leave school at only 15, not finishing her Higher School Certificate. As child turning into a young lady she then began living life on her own at only 16.
English was learnt from the necessities of getting by – and watching cartoons on the television.
Children’s shows like Scoobie Doo and others became her teachers.
She now jokes she must have been the only one watching who understood the dog more than the other characters.
The ups and downs of life were learnt through experience, with each day bringing new challenges – it wasn’t easy but she managed to keep her sense of humour through it all.
There were to be hard times, dark times and some amazing times ahead in her life. Although she prefers not to go into details if you look closely at her work it may give you some sort of idea, or even make you wonder, at what she might have been through.
One thing she did do, however, was to set herself five goals.
The first was to buy a car, second to buy a house, third was to get married, fourth was to have children and the last was to have her own business.
Four of these came to happen.
She got herself a car, house, business and had children. Unfortunately she did not have luck marrying the man she thought was meant to be ‘the one’.
Her struggles in life continued as he became abusive and controlling. Worse was to come as she lost all and was forced into bankruptcy.
In 2008, after a life filled with hardships Anna Maria finally picked up a paintbrush and turned to the canvas to release her emotions.
Her first painting was called “Forbidden To See”.
The painting depicts the queen of fire.
Normally unseen by human eyes she is captured in a rare moment through the flame of a candle.
Her second painting followed four months later.
“Untouchable” depicts an unborn baby pictured in a full moon.
It represents the untouched soul of humankind – one which cannot be hurt or corrupted by life.
Anna Maria had the first exhibition of her work in Sydney in 2012 called “Symbols of Emotion”.
The oil paintings, seen for the first time in that exhibition, all contained coded spiritual messages but did not follow any religious themes.
The symbols she brings into each painting are meant to be interpreted by each viewer’s own higher power.
Codes are written on the prints made of each painting shown in that exhibition.
You can see or purchase the prints (and some originals) through this website.
Despite her tough past Anna Maria is full of life and a very cheeky lady and hopes you will love her work!