Maya Ife'

Maya Ife (°1975, New Jersey, United States) is an artist who works in a variety of
media. By examining the dialog between what we think and what is, Ife tries to
clarify the uncertainty of aesthetic perspective. Through emotional detachment and
focused observation, Ife’ s process creates a sanctuary of mind where reality can
show its true colors free of beliefs and opinions.

Her artworks are based on creating situations that provoke the spirit of the
individual to manifest itself in the sensory world in a way that is beneficial to all.
By taking daily life as the medium as well as the subject matter, Ife addresses
modern values and how they affect our collective wellness. This artist wants the
viewer to become a part of the art, recognizing themselves as co-creators in life.

When taking Ife’s work into account, art is not just entertainment. To be able to
touch the work, as well as to interact with the work allows a candid intimacy with
the scientific underpinnings of life. Her work seeks to lay open the inner structure
of the universe starting with the human being. Associations and meanings collide.
Space becomes time and language becomes image. Her works are characterized by
the use of ancient methods in the context of contemporary living such as Henna
Design, in which ideas of time and timelessness play an important role.

Maya Ife began making art as soon as she could coordinate the movement of her
hands and fingers. She did however, go on to receive formal arts training in
Fashion Design and Illustration at the High School for Fashion Industries. Later Ife’
continued her arts training at the Fashion Institute of Technology. During her
studies in fashion Ife’ discovered a fascinating universal pattern for taking ideas
and bringing them into material form. Eager to apply this insight to other aspects
of life Ife’ was lead to more scientific and spiritually driven perspectives on art.