Maria Kelebeev is living out nearly every western painter’s dream since the Renaissance.
The Innisfil woman is flying to Italy this week, to have her work showcased as part of the Contemporary Art Talent Show in the northern city of Padova, just outside of Venice. In total, she’ll have three pieces on display at Queen Art Studio from Nov. 15 to 18.
“You join the greats in a little way," Kelebeev said. “There’s a little artistic spiritualness. It’s an awesome time that I’ll definitely revisit when I’m older.”
Prior to moving to Innisfil, Kelebeev operated her own bricks-and-mortar gallery in Concord. A representative from the Queen studio recently reached out, thinking Kelebeev was still involved in that business.
“She contacted me with a question of if I have artists who are ready to be represented at such an opportunity,” Kelebeev said. “I no longer actively work with a roster of artists.”
But, instead she presented her portfolio of work. And the rest, as they say, is art history.
“It came out of thin air, in a way,” she said. “But I said ‘yes’. I so needed this. I so happily embraced it.”
The paintings chosen were created while Kelebeev was in Venice nearly 20 years ago.
“They went back to the ones done there,” she said. “They’re going home, in a way. Whenever you buy a lottery ticket, you always hope you will win. There is that dream that any particular painting you’re working for, that’s going to be your Mona Lisa or Sistine Chapel. With every new project, you start with that in mind.”
Thousands of people typically attend the show, so she’d love to sell all the pieces.
“I didn’t think the moment where that many people would walk past my painting would be happening next week; that was a surprise,” she said, noting this is the largest art fair she’s participated in. “I’ve only been a professional artist, not as a side (venture), since 2020. Everything that’s happened since then has been kind of a novelty. I didn’t think that big step would come now. It feels like a little career lift.”
This is the latest achievement for Kelebeev, who has been featured in Innisfil’s Art Around the Town initiative. Local businesses including Starbucks and Johnny Burger have also showcased her work.
Upon her return, Kelebeev says she will appear at the Gilford Wintermarkt on Nov. 23, with plenty of stories to share of the adventure.
“It’s always a beautiful, festive event,” she said of the Wintermarkt. “And I would love to meet people there and talk about this. Come and share this joy with me.”
For more on Kelebeev, visit her website or Facebook or Instagram pages.
