Mara Szyp - Biography

Mara Szyp is an Argentinean-Canadian artist whose work bridges fine art and natural materials. Specializing in West Coast seascapes and landscapes, she creates oil paintings that capture the shifting moods of the ocean and sky with a dreamlike, atmospheric quality—a romanticized version of reality that invites viewers to feel rather than simply observe. Her connection to the coast also extends into her woodwork, where she creates pieces that blend fine art with the raw beauty of nature.

Sustainability is at the heart of her practice. She works exclusively with locally and ethically sourced driftwood and live-edge slabs, honouring the environment that inspires her. She allows the grain, textures, and natural contours of each piece to guide her process. Every wood artwork begins with the character of the material itself, and she builds from there intuitively, shaping the final composition around what the wood reveals. The finished pieces feel both rustic and refined, rooted in place yet elevated in craftsmanship. The wood artworks are completed with clear resin and hand-painted details that highlight the wood’s organic features, often incorporating marine twine, solid copper, magnets or a rich variety of woods like aromatic cedar, cherry wood, cottonwood, fir Douglas, golden maple, etc, Adding subtle natural elements in recognition of the shoreline environments she seeks to protect and celebrate.

Mara’s art is deeply tied to nature—its textures, colours, rhythms, and quiet strength. Her creative path mirrors her own journey of resilience; after surviving cancer three times, she dedicated herself fully to her craft. Through both painting and woodwork, she brings the outdoors into interior spaces in a way that feels grounded, timeless, and alive.

Her work can be found in galleries, art collectives, and shops across Vancouver Island, where she has made her home since 2005. Whether through oil on canvas or sculptural woodwork, her intention remains constant: to offer pieces that carry the spirit of the coast, invite a sensory experience, and create a sense of place wherever they are displayed.

Curriculum:

2025 - PRESENT ~ ARTIST at SOUTH SHORE GALLERY

2025 - PRESENT ~ ARTIST at STATION STREET GALLERY and FRAME SHOP

2021 - PRESENT ~ EXHIBITING STATUS Artist Federation of Canadian Artist

2021 - PRESENT ~ EXHIBITING STATUS Federation of Canadian Artist - Victoria Chapter

2024 - March 2025 ~ ARTIST MEMBER AT METCHOSIN ARTPOD ART GALLERY

2019 - PRESENT ~ ARTS AND CULTURE COLWOOD ~ GOLDFINCH GALLERY

2020 - PRESENT ~ ARTIST AT SOOKE ARTS COUNCIL

2021 - PRESENT ~ ARTIST MEMBER AT ARTSEA ART GALLERY

2022 - PRESENT ~ ARTIST MEMBER AT S.P.A.C.S

Events: To see all click here

2025 FCA VICTORIA ~ ARTS & CULTURE COLWOOD ~ GOLDFINCH GALLERY FALL SHOW

2025 FCA VICTORIA ~ ARTSEA ART GALLERY SPRING SHOW

2025 Salon des Refusés 2025 – South Shore Gallery ~

2023/2024 AGGV ART GALLERY GREATER VICTORIA WINTER SMALL WORKS + SALE

2023 FCA VICTORIA FORTUNE GALLERY FALL

2023 FCA VICTORIA FORTUNE GALLERY EXPRESSIONS
2023 SPAC FINE ARTS SHOW

2023 TD PAINT-IN MOSS ST.

2022 TD PAINT-IN MOSS ST.

2021 TD PAINT-IN ARTISTS GUIDE COVID

2022 SOOKE FINE ARTS SHOW
2022 FCA VANCOUVER, BC SPOTLIGHT 2022

AWARDS

2025 PEOPLE CHOICE AWARD “BE STILL MY HEART” ART SHOW ARTS & CULTURE COLWOOD ART GALLERY FOR THE PIECE “WHAT’S LEFT BEHIND” - (SOLD AT THE SHOW)

2024 JUROR’S CHOICE AWARD “WATER” BY SAMANTHA DICKEY - ARTPOD ART GALLERY FOR THE PIECE “LOST”(SOLD)

2022 NOV. HONOURABLE MENTION BY GALLERY RING FOR “CHESTNUT” ARTWORK

2021 BRONZE AWARD CAMELBACK GALLERY FOR “KANANASKIS”

2021 HONOURABLE METION AWARD GALLERY RING FOR “JADE & GOLD” ABSTRACT SHOW

2021 HONOURABLE MENTION AWARD GALLERY RING FOR “BROKEN” ABSTRACT SHOW

2020 THE PREQUEL ISSUE #7 PUBLISHED “THE OBELISK”

2020 UNTIL - THE PREQUEL PUBLISHED “REFLECTION”

2019 INTERVIEWED BY HERE! MAGAZINE

OCTOBER HILL MAGAZINE New York PUBLISHED 5 TIMES (2019 TO 2023)
OVER 100 ART SHOWS SINCE 2018
9 MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS

4 BOOKS ILLUSTRATED PUBLISHED