Maria Tsimbourla’s journey is truly inspiring! From her beginnings in South Africa, where she completed her honours degree in Fine Arts at the University of Pietermaritzburg, to her diverse career across continents, she has made significant contributions to the art world.

Her work as a window display designer at Harrods in London and as an Art Director at Ogilvy, Mather and Hunt Lascaris TBWA Johannesburg showcases her versatility and creativity. Emigrating to Greece in 2004, she continued to share her passion for art by teaching at the Jewellery Design School of Athens and working as an art therapist at the EPIPSY Centre for Children with schizophrenia.

Her collaboration with the research team for the Athens Cultural Olympiad in 2004, particularly the exhibition “The Other Side,” presenting the ‘art of the insane’, highlights her dedication to exploring and presenting on an international scale. This exhibition brought together artwork from psychiatric hospitals across Greece and included pieces from renowned collections such as The Stadshof Collection, the Moscow Museum, and the Musée National d’Art Moderne at the Centre Pompidou.

Maria’s participation in numerous solo and group exhibitions in South Africa, England, Greece, Austria, and Cyprus further underscores her impact and reach in the art community.