The lines that run through Ana Maria Velasco’s art take inspiration from every corner of her life. Ana Maria was born in Bogotá, Colombia, to a family of political leaders, poets, writers, and rebellious figures; she grew up between a Nicaragua (her mother’s homeland) undergoing the throes of dictatorship and revolution and a Colombia ravaged by narco-terrorism. These turbulent, yet inspiring environments heightened Ana Maria’s sense of social awareness and, early on, solidified art as a path for bringing positive change into the world.

Her landscapes are populated by drastically diverse people and situations that are harmoniously tied together through line, color and form. Ana Maria’s paintings explore how a line can transform a helicopter into a river alchemize a quiet mountain top into a populated city; unify an intimate dinner with a loud soccer stadium spectacle. One element flows into another, effortlessly leaving behind a translucent trace of dreams, memories, and figures. The layered scenes often depict battlefields and sports arenas, yet the turmoil is surprisingly calm, wrapped tightly in a mysteriously peaceful poetic quality. The portraits and the Jungle series are driven by her love for people, animals and nature. She captures the spirit of her subjects, revealing a glimpse into another realm, leading the viewers through fantastic tales, inviting them to invent their own story.

Ana Maria’s formal training began at The Conservatory of Fine Arts, in Cali, Colombia, and continued at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University in Boston where she completed an MFA. She teaches Yoga and Art to adults and studies at The Tibetan Art Studio in NYC. Her work has been exhibited in Europe, South America and USA. She lives and works between Cali and New York City.