María José Romero was born in Mexico City in 1970, studied visual arts in Boston, United States in the late eighties and returned to her country of origin in the early nineties to begin her professional career.
At that time the digital era had reached its peak, many artists responded by choosing to address issues related to identity and tangible experience through media such as site specific performances and installations.
The beginnings of Romero’s work finds itself inserted in this context, so, like the artists of that moment, she examined these themes and media; however, she resisted following the majority and persisted with the conviction that her true language was painting.
Thus, the artist has focused on the investigation of identity and personal experience through study of disciplines such as psychology, biology, cosmology and astrology. In particular, MJR is interested in in studies related to the functioning of the human mind and the universe.
As in a combination between a surreal automatic drawing with an action painting the artist faces the canvas with a spontaneous choreography in which the whole body is involved without any previous planning of what will result in the end, so with gestural strokes expresses the deepest recesses of the mind and emotions. Thus, Romero’s painting, rather than an abstract interpretation, represents a space of action, a sample of movement, speed, energy and forces of the body and the sub-conscious.
MJR’s work has a marked autobiographical accent; from her obvious taste for the processes of plant life, specifically the form and function of the seeds, to experiences within her own life for which she has used her creativity with cathartic intention.
This largely explains the difference that exists between each of the series of her productions: for example, in her early work, with the exhibition Brute Force (2000), a very controlled, carefully geometric stroke is observed, sketches that refer to Siqueiros paintings with a varied color palette. This is a stage in which there is a desire for experimentation with a variety of colors, with a variety of techniques and even languages (abstract and figurative). In the course of its evolution the lines lose formal formats, peaks and troughs are observed that are derived from the artists varying emotions and life experiences until reaching the Seeds series. Here a point of culmination is reached, where the artist produces pieces that represent a unification of her Oeuvre to date.
Surprisingly, Romero’s trajectory has paralleled her interests in and depiction of the processes of plant life, specifically – her work has exploded forth from the seed (the Seed 1 painting) germinating from a sort of center formed by her earlier work which represents her roots, studies, her experimentation and introspection – aspects that have provided a wellspring of knowledge and strength from where the artist grows outwards.
The seed of Maria José’s initial work has germinated, taken root and has transformed itself as a metaphorical tree; flourishing an abundant canopy manifesting a strong and vibrant maturity that has finally reached its oeuvre; the distillation of her experience, artistic knowledge, and studies on various subjects as mentioned above (in complex theories).
The artist continues to investigate, explore and interrogate – with the intention of continuously expanding her knowledge base, thus the tree continues its trajectory of growth approaching the point of culmination of bearing fruit.
Just as there is no way to understand all the intricacies of nature, neither can we predict in which direction the work of MJR will continue to grow; as in any complex system, it resists a linear evolution and leaves open a lot of possibilities that allow the painter’s production to be unique.
María José Romero has participated in several individual exhibitions and in great number of collective exhibitions in the United States, Spain and Mexico. The first is her place of professional training and the second her native country.
MJR´s multidisciplinary approach proposes solutions to current problems that invite the reflection and introspection of the viewer in contemplation of her work.
Marisol Noble
PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
2020 Photography. Yvonne Venegas Workshop, Mexico City, Mexico
2019 Honest Art. Jodie King Workshop, Arts Center, Sedona Arizona, U.S.A
2017-2018 Photography. Carlos Alcazar Workshop, Mexico City, Mexico
2001 Encaustic Workshop. Arturo Buitrón Workshop, Mexico City, Mexico
1994-1995 History of Mexican and Universal Modern Art. Centro Nacional de las Artes, Mexico City, Mexico
1994-1995 Synthesis and Consequences of 19th Century Art. Casa Lamm, Mexico City, Mexico
1989-1992 Studies in Fine Arts. School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A
1989-1992 Studies in Fine Arts. Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A
INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS
2025 Phoenix. Le Laboratoire gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2023 EMERGENCIAS. Frontera de la Complejidad. Museo de la Ciudad de Querétaro, Queretaro, Mexico
2022 El hilo de las cosas. Le Laboratoire gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2019 Teorías complejas. Páramo gallery, Gallery Weekend, Mexico City, Mexico
2019 El nido en mí. Salón Silicón, Mexico City, Mexico
2016 Germinal. Seminario de Cultura Mexicana. Galería 526, Mexico City, Mexico
2016 Germinal. Instituto de México en España, Madrid, Spain
2014 Roller Coaster Manhattan. Bushwick. New York City, New York, U.S.A
2013 ¿Le gusta este jardín que es suyo? Arredondo/Arozarena gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2012 Infarto. White Spider Project, Mexico City, Mexico
2008 Craxis. Fundación Sebastián, Mexico City, Mexico
2006 Urantia. Galería Origina, Mexico City, Mexico
2002 Intentos de vuelo. Galería Carlos Muro Artes México, San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
2003 Fuerza vital. Arte Quimera Proyectos, Mexico City, Mexico
1997 Anatomía de un alma y algunos otros recorridos. Galería El Octavo Día, Mexico City, Mexico
1996 El sonido de la luz. Centro Cultural Contreras, Mexico City, Mexico
1994 La vanidad del color. Estudio Abierto, Mexico City, Mexico
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Mimesis. Visions of Art in Nature. Art Studio 244, Mexico City, Mexico
2023 ETHOS. Le Laboratoire gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2022 Quizás quiso decir sonoridad. LagunaMX. Mexico City, Mexico
2021 Mujeres entretejidas: historias de resistencia. Museo de Arte de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
2019 La tabla de los elementos. Universum Museo de las Ciencias UNAM. Mexico City, Mexico
2019 Más que musas. Museo José Luis Cuevas, Mexico City, Mexico
2019 Aglomerados. Seminario de Cultura Mexicana, Mexico City, Mexico
2019 Más que musas. Museo de Arte e Historia de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
2018 Más que musas. LS/ Galería, Mexico City, Mexico
2018 Masters. Latitud Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico
2017 Masters. Hotel Brick, Mexico City, Mexico
2017 Serie Semillas. The Beauty Project, Mexico City, Mexico (Selected)
2016 Natural (exhibition and auction). La Quiñonera, Mexico City, Mexico
2015 Naked Bloom. Pillbox Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2014 Cajas mágicas. Club de Industriales, Mexico City, Mexico
2013 Arte sana (exhibition and auction). Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City, Mexico
2011 Espectacularte. Galería Pi, Mexico City, Mexico
2010 Pisadas en tu techo. Casa Animal, Mexico City, Mexico
2010 Gesture: Making the Mark. Hygienic Art Galleries, New London, Connecticut, U.S.A.
2009 Subastarte (exhibition and auction). Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Mexico
2007 Extravaganza (exhibition and auction). Galería 10/10, Mexico City, Mexico
2007 Uno & aad. Arte, Antigüedades y Diseño, Mexico City, Mexico
2006 Cow Parade. Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City, Mexico
2005 Cuatro. Galería Interior Cuatro, Mexico City, Mexico
2005 Colectivo. Atrio Galería, Mexico City, Mexico
2001 Creación es poder. Centro Cultural La Pirámide. Mexico City, Mexico
2000 Diez años una modelo. Casa de la Cultura Juan Rulfo. Mexico City, Mexico
1997 V Salón de dibujo de Santo Domingo. Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1995 Hacia la vanguardia. Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares. Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
1992 League Night. The Art Market Gallery. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
OTHERS PROJECTS
2023 FLOW. Short film. Tonalá Cinema, Mexico City, Mexico
2023 FLOW. Conversation. Banda Municipal gallery, Mexico City, Mexico
2017 Mural. Burning Man Festival: Radical Ritual. Black Rock City, Nevada, U.S.A. (Selected by Camp La Grange)
2006 DeAmores. Collective performance. Galería Origina, Mexico City, Mexico
AKNOWLEDGMENTS
2024 Urban Film Festival, Official Selection. Miami, Florida, U.S.A. FLOW short film
2022 DNA Paris Design Awards, winner in two categories: Landscape design / Parks and public space, education, community and recreation; Architecture / Public architecture. Paris, France