Images of Eyes Gallery I
Indigenous Artwork by Maria Victoria Medina
United States

Maria Victoria Medina was born in Medellin, Colombia, on July 20, 1949.  Her work has been exhibited in Colombia and in New York and Florida in the United States.  From Oct 1996 to Jan 1997, Medina's collection of Indigenous Peoples, drawings and paintings that explore "Spirits of Earth," was exhibited at the Regional Artist’s Gallery inside the Palm Beach International Airport.

Artist's Statement

"Far into the mountains of Colombia, near a crystal clear river with varied colored rocks, flowering trees and birds singing overhead, I played my flute for the universe and the cows that came to drink from the river.  The passing from one dimension to another is painful.  After all the detailed work of the portrait with its majestic beauty, painting on top makes it necessary to let go.  But, when I bring the person back in the ethereal plane, it is pure joy!  I am blessed to be able to manifest spiritual meaning in a painting and remind people where we come from, where we are, and what we are.

"I had to give back to the universe for all it had given me.  Environmentally, we were dying, so my messages came manifesting seven paintings [four are reproduced in this exhibit].  I was devastated and my soul would not allow me to sell the finished collection to make money on the sadness of the earth, so I donated the paintings to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, [Florida, USA] where they can be seen today.  I prayed to the spirit of the earth to help me overcome the sorrow and renew my love life.  I had an illumination to 'celebrate life,' to find beauty and happiness in painting the indigenous people of the world who are still in contact with nature.  My purpose was to show the world that this is a beautiful planet with amazing people...".

"Ladakh Boy" by Maria Victoria Medina
(Remote district of India)
Image Copyright © by Maria Victoria Medina

The Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh is one of the most remote regions of India.  In the West it is sometimes referred to as Moon country and Little Tibet.  Leh, the present capital of Ladakh, was once the central meeting-point for trade caravans from Central Asia and the plains of India.   Ladakh is surrounded by two of the most imposing mountain ranges in the world:  Karakorams to the North and the Himalayas to the South.

"Wodaabe" (Niger, Africa) by Maria Victoria Medina
Image Copyright © by Maria Victoria Medina

The Wodaabe people are nomadic herders and traders of the regions of Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.  They weave and dye beautiful cloth that is considered extremely valuable through western Africa.  The men are well-known and take great pride in their physical beauty.  The Wodaabe, like many aborigines in Africa, abandoned the cities of North Africa when British colonists and local Muslims began to wield their influence in the 19th century.

"Maasai Girl" by Maria Victoria Medina
(Kenya and Tanzania, East Africa)
Image Copyright © by Maria Victoria Medina

"Yakima Indian"  by Maria Victoria Medina
Image Copyright © by Maria Victoria Medina
[Painting of Native American of Washington State, U.S.]

Published Feb 15, 2001
Republished Apr 27, 2008