Maria Sarmiento is a passionate, versatile, and highly motivated artist and educator with extensive experience teaching sculpture in Fine Arts and Art Foundations in design universities and art centers. A native of Colombia and resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Maria’s work is inspired by nature and ancient cultures (pre-historic and pre-Colombian) and evokes spirituality as well as a sense of transcendence.

Maria describes her work as a medium to express inner spiritual growth. She connects with common symbols of cultures and explores emerging forms in diverse materials and transforms traditional symbols into her own. Her sculptural art includes different methods such as cast metals, cement, Paltiya, steel, paper, and recycled materials. Maria’s background includes broad knowledge and expertise in artistic glass, from stained, to cast, fused and now Mosaic.

 Maria’s currently teaches art workshops nationally and her past teaching assignments include Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, The Art Institute of Atlanta, Metro Academic Studies, and Sarmiento Studio LLC.

Maria received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Universidad de Bogota Jorge Tadeo Lozano in Bogota, Colombia. Her leadership appointments include Board of Directors and Chair of the Recognition Committee and social media for Mid-South Sculpture Alliance (MSA) and Co-Chair of the 2015th Mid-South Sculpture National Conference. Also former board of directors at Gilmer Arts in Ellijay Georgia.