For artist Marina Maltezou, artistic creation is an internal need. The Greek-born artist works exclusively based on instinct. She is driven to create works that evoke emotion, and her creative process helps her to overcome personal obstacles. Her moody abstract works evoke mystery and intrigue. Maltezou confronts themes such as the human body, the environment, and dreams. Heavily inspired by Francis Bacon, there is a sense of psychological exploration within her works.
Her paintings are composed mainly of oil on wood and canvas. She works with mixed techniques, but often adds extrinsic materials to add unexpected tension to her pieces. Her works are rarely isolated projects. Each painting is a continuation upon her oeuvre. She constantly adds and recomposes her paintings, which always have references to older works. Maltezou’s career as a teacher has also inspired her artistic practice. The children she works with help her to visualize an ideal world and give her the courage to express herself. Her ability to balance somberness and hope results in complex paintings that warrant contemplation.