Maria Astrid Vergara was born in South America and immigrated to the United States at the age of 12. Her mom sensed her passion for art in middle school and enrolled her in classes at the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she would later, in 2009, earn her MFA in painting and drawing. After studying abroad in Rome and traveling throughout Europe, she eventually settled in Oak Park, IL where she lives with her husband and stepson. She works out of her art studio in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, where she continues to work on new projects covering topics ranging from social justice to glamour, luxury and culture.
Profile image by: Maria Vergara
Fancy Carpet, Oil on Canvas, 3”H x 4” W x 3” D
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Featured Artworks
Candid painting of Mike Grosso
Oil on Canvas, 11” W x 14” W. 2020
Maria Vergara
Oil on canvas
Princes Grace
Rhinestones on Panel, 8.5” W x 10.3” H x 1.8” D. Private Collection .
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
This piece was named after Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. I named them after a specific Monarchy based on how the rhinestones end up shaped..
Queen Alexandra of Denmark
Rhinestones and jewelry on Panel, 8.5” W x 10.3” H x 1.9” D
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Queen Alexandra of Denmark was known for her tall and slender figure. I decided to make this rhinestone piece with long earrings as a symbol of her long neck.
Intergalactic Deities
Oil, Acrylic and Rhinestones on canvas.90 W x 69 H x 1.8 D in
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Hindu Deities floating in the Cosmos with Astronauts.
Bear Rug
Oil on Canvas, 14"H x 14" W x 2" D. Private Collection
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Part of the Luxury Interior series.
Duchess
Rhinestones and jewelry on Panel, 14”W x 16”H. Private Collection
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Rhinestone series
Faustina
Rhinestones and Rhinestone jewelry on Panel, 11.5” W x 14.3” H x 2” D. Private Collection of David Disch and Amy Dahlem
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Rhinestone series
Tuscan Villa
Oil on Canvas
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Part of the Luxury Interior Series.
The Cube No.1
Rhinestones on a wooden cube
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Rhinestone series
The Peacock
Rhinestones on Panel, 6x6x2
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Rhinestone series
Dylan in a colonial Wig
Oil on Canvas
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Face Time series
Emmet Till being taken at gun point during the night.
Gouache on Paper
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
From the Emmett Till series
Emmett Till Before and After
Gouache on Paper
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
From the Emmett Till series
Emmett Till's funeral at the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ
Gouache on Paper
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Emmett Till's series.
Maria Yawning after arriving at the Black and White benefit, with Camilla Parker Bowels and Prince Charles
Gouache and watercolor pencils on paper.
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Celebrity photobombing series
Me: Crashing at Camilla Parker Bowles' visit to the Children's Hospital
Acrylic and watercolor pencils on paper.
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Celebrity photobombing series
Yves St. Laurent Study Room
Oil on Canvas 8”W x 10”H x 0.1”D. 2015. Private Collection
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Luxury interiors series
Yves St. Laurent Dining room
Oil on Canvas 8”W x 10”H x 0.1”D. 2015. Private Collection.
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Luxury interiors series
Scandinavian Feast
Oil on Canvas with Gold Flakes. 90 W x 69 H x 1.8 D in
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Royal interior series
Too much Armor for this glamour.
Oil on Canvas. 2012 Private Collection
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Royal interiors series
The Parlor Room
Oil on Canvas, 3”H x 4” W x 3” D. 2009
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
Royal interior series
Gladiators
Oil on Canvas. Private Collection
Photo Credit: Maria Vergara
The Queen in Space being consumed by a black hole.
Oil and Acrylic on Canvas with Rhinestones
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Royal Wax sculptures
Oil on Canvas
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Roman bath house
Oil on Canvas with Gold flakes.
Photo Credit: Tom Van Eynde
Maria Vergara has crowd-funded a project with 3AP
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- $3,752 raised of $2,000 goal
- 0 Days 0:00:00 LEFT
For the past five years I’ve been working with rhinestones to create mixed media artwork. Now, with this project, I am producing these pieces on a grander scale with much larger wooden panels. My rhinestone artwork is inspired by my …
Read more about Rhinestones