maha momtaz

Maha Momtaz is a Studio Art major at the University of Mary Washington and, she is based in Virginia. Her art has been displayed and sold at Possum-bilities and Liberty Town Arts in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. Maha experiments with multiple mediums and applies them to her mixed-media art. Her current work consists of collages made out of magazine clippings and paint or oil pastels. She plays with bright colors and different font styles in her artwork. Recently, she has been making jewelry, stickers, and pins to sell in her online shop. She often travels to different parts of Virginia to do craft markets or conventions. 

My art is a form of memory. It allows me to document moments and emotions in my life. My works come in all sizes and mediums. I like to experiment with different product dimensions. It allows more freedom and fluidity in my creation process. Most of my work incorporates mixed media elements; I often use found objects and materials to help convey my message. It brings more visual interest and textures to my pieces. I have been creating mixed-media collages with paper or fabric. The collages are brightly colored, and disorganized, but strategically placed. They are static like a single shot of a memory. If it is not mixed media-based, I heavily focus on the colors I use. The shades and placement of color have importance behind them that further impact the work.

The inspiration for my artwork comes from my everyday experiences and personal connections with the world and others. Every art piece has a story attached to itself. It is either silly or impactful to my intake of my surroundings. Sometimes the story is obvious, other times it is only I who knows what is happening. If anyone is curious, all they have to do is ask! I enjoy storytelling in my art. Another topic I often explore is the nostalgia of my Bengali identity and the women in the culture. The works evoke remembrance of the small pieces of my life in Bangladesh or shine a light on the aspects of the culture that are hidden or forgotten. I bring the life of Bengali women to the forefront and pinpoint the invisibility of their actions and lives. My work is a collection of different mediums that speak a story.