About Maria

Maria Servellón is an award-winning multimedia artist, filmmaker, and educator from Boston, MA. Her expertise spans film, new media, projection, installation, photography, and design. Using a synesthetic approach that integrates sensory experiences and storytelling, Maria’s work delves into the interplay between art, music, and dance in shaping self-identity. 

Maria’s creative projects have reached audiences locally and internationally, with screenings and exhibitions in Massachusetts, New York, California, Oregon, the UK, and Mexico. Highlights of her work include the magic-realist short film Hyphen (2018); projection designs for Company One’s Black Super Hero Magic Mama (2022) and The Interrobangers (2024 Elliot Norton Award nomination for “Best Scenic Design”); and the immersive installation Hibiskiss (2022), showcasing the breadth of her creative work.

Her contributions to the arts have earned significant recognition, including being named a “Latina Leader” by Amplify Latinx, an “Outstanding Young Leader” by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, and one of WBUR’s “The Makers”. She has also received honors, grants, fellowships, and residencies from the Boston Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture, Mass MoCA, Boston Arts & Business Council, and other prominent organizations. Maria holds a BA in Studio Art from UMass Boston, an MFA in Film and Media Art from Emerson College, and has taught at Emerson College, MassArt, Northeastern University, and UMass Boston.

Artist Statement

I am a visual explorer and storyteller who uses film, new media, design, music, and dance to express truths and possibilities. My approach blends experimental and narrative techniques to craft authentic narratives and immersive experiences. Through my work, I seek to satiate my curiosity about the world and unravel my connection to it.

My artwork is a conscious and intuitive exploration of intersectional identity, utilizing elements of magic realism. Through abstract and archival visuals, I pay a color-rich homage to the fluidity of culture, gender, history, memories, and dreams.

My artistic journey aims to transcend established norms existing in both the physical and digital spheres. These realizations aim to bridge a connection between myself and the audience, forging a mutual path of discovery and understanding.

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Awards, Honors, Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies
2024
- WBUR’s Boston Makers, WBUR
- Hispanic/Latino Leader, MassLive
- Boston Opportunity Fund, Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture
- The Interrobangers, Outstanding Scenic Design, Outstanding Production Nomination, Elliot Norton Awards
2023
- Sustaining Practice Grant, Collective Futures/Tufts University
- Black Super Hero Magic Mama, Outstanding Production Nomination
2022
- Surge East Boston Coastal Communities Artist Fellowship, Boston Dance Theater
- We Create! Festival Fellowship, Danza Orgánica
2021
- Featured Small Business, AIGA Boston
- Sponsorship Program 2.0, Sponsee, NAAC ArtsBoston
- Artist of the Month, Greater Boston Artist Collective
- Out of the Silhouette, 2nd Place, Under The Same Flag Show, Project B Gallery at The Mill Contemporary
2020
- Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Honoree, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce,
- Latina Leader Award Honoree, Amplify Latinx
- Assets for Artists Grant, MASS MoCA
- Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston
- Digital Media Capstone Teaching Residency, Boston Public Schools/EdVestors
2019
- Hyphen, Best Drama Finalist, Official Latino Film and Art Festival, Palm Desert, CA
- Hyphen, Best Coming of Age Film Finalist, Oaxaca Filmfest, Mexico
- New England Film Star Award Finalist, NewEnglandFilm.com
- Hyphen, Best Music Award, Femme Filmmakers Fest, Online, CA
2018
- Boston Latino 30 Under 30 Award Honoree, El Mundo Boston
- Boston Artist Opportunity Fund, Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture
2016
- Summit Scholar, Forbes Under 30
2015-2018
- MFA Half-Tuition Fellowship, Emerson College
2014
- Pasillos Pintados Artist Residency, Hurley K-8 School

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”…Servellon’s serenely captivating short film, Hyphen…” - Filmotomy.com

”In addition to showcasing a stylistically diverse selection of artworks, Bradbury made a point to include a mix of well-known, experienced makers such as Maria Servellón”
"The shifting groove and mood of Servellón’s ‘between u & i & them, with its trippy, sometimes ominous vibe…” - Boston Art Review

”Maria’s work gives a feeling of colors floating through space, with layers of translucency and opacity. Glimpses of semi-abstract images embedded in her graphic work show a mysterious, dream-like tone to her collections.”
”Maria explores human form, beauty and abstraction” - A Far Cry

”[Cagen] Luse’s truly exceptional work is abetted by projection designer Maria Servellón” - Boston Globe

”Working within the realm of glitch art, Servellón is deeply drawn by both the philosophical and aesthetic aspects of the glitch, a technical malfunction or human error. Subverting our traditional perception of these errors, the artist embraces the “happy mistakes” through the exhibition and seeks to illuminate an alternative experience that is also authentic to our daily lives.”
”Concertedly, Servellón’s artistic intervention repositions viewers to approach the reality from a different perspective, one that finds serendipitous qualities within errors.” - Harvard Square

”[Company One’s] design team brought its A game… especially Maria Servellon (projections).” - Boston Globe

”Sharing home movies creatively projected by Maria Servellón, Eddy is not limited to the stage..” - Sleepless Critic

”Maria Servellón‘s lustrous projections [in Morning, Noon, & Night] impressively portray the immaculate and too-good-to-be-true nature of the internet as well as beautiful memories.  It’s pristine, sparkling and deceptively perfect…“ - Sleepless Critic