Maria Astadjov is a Montreal-based artist whose journey began in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she completed her education before relocating to Canada in 1990. She spent 15 years working as an animation artist on numerous productions and commercials. During her time at Cinar, her team received the 1998 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Series for the acclaimed program Arthur.
In an era marked by self-promotion and media saturation, Maria distinguishes herself as an authentic artist committed to meaningful audience connection. Known for her distinctive abstract style, she works across a range of media—including aluminum, stained glass, and traditional materials—to explore the fragility of emotions and the interplay of light, texture, and form. Her practice often begins with sketches that capture fleeting thoughts, some of which evolve into works examining the complexity of human relationships and the tension between closeness and distance.
Recurring shapes appear throughout her work as ideas that echo and re-emerge rather than as simple forms. Aluminum allows her to shift perception through light and angle, while stained glass introduces additional layers of transparency and depth. Drawing for as long as she can remember, Maria considers her art a safe and essential space—an extension of herself and a vulnerable invitation for viewers to find their own stories within it.
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Which ’hood are you in?
Montreal
What do you do?
Whenever I find a quiet moment, I sketch—capturing thoughts and impressions that later guide my work. From these drawings, I select a few to carry forward, translating them into the materials that feel right for the final piece. What begins as a simple sketch evolves into something more considered and tactile. This process is more than a passion; it is a source of fulfillment and a place of calm, where I feel most at home.
What are you currently working on?
I tend to work on several pieces at once, allowing each to evolve at its own pace. At the moment, one of the pieces I am working on is aluminum, another on glass, and a third on wood.
Where can we find your work?
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Currently exhibiting at Galerie Anger in Old Montreal and participating in various group shows in Quebec and Ontario.
