Maria Albiez
I grew up in Germany and worked as a laboratory assistant at the "Institute für Strömungswissenschaft" (Institute for Scientific Water Research) for three and a half years.
This was followed by 4 years study in Remedial Education and 7 years work in a Camphill home in South Africa, with trainees and with children and adults with learning difficulties.
I moved to England and graduated as an Artistic Therapist at Tobias School of Art. A growing interest in the value of Sculpture Therapy led to a two and a half year post-graduate study with Gertraud Goodwin.
Since 1996 I have taught at the Studio and at other venues in England, Estonia, Switzerland and Finland as well as pursuing my own artistic path and working as an art therapist.
Over the past few years I have worked mainly with slate and recycled wood formed by the sea. Inspiration gained from the slate, its colours and forms have led to anthropomorphic sculptures. Relationships and the space in between forms are on-going central themes in both slate and wood. Another interest is to use artistic activities in the context of social interactions and group dynamic.