Local Innisfil painter and mother of two, Maria Kelebeev has launched her first online art exhibit and virtual auction, showcasing paintings from local mothers depicting the joyous moments of motherhood, but also the challenges mothers face.
The art exhibit and auction will be held on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9 from noon – 2 p.m., featuring a variety of themed artwork the public can bid on and purchase to support local mompreneurs.
“The goal is to give moms an outlet and more exposure,” explains Kelebeev. “As a mother, I needed to ‘recover’ from all that has happened this past year, so I wanted to give back and provide an outlet for other painters as well.”
Kelebeev has been painting her whole life. She attended art school and completed her residency in Greece and Italy. After being ‘laid off’ from her marketing job last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Kelebeev used the opportunity to focus on her artistic expression through painting and in February of 2020, Kelebeev officially opened her first art exhibit, 'Hannatess ArtHaus' in Concord. She is currently working on relocating her studio to Innisfil where she resides with her family.
“I feel like I’ve been employed essentially to paint more pictures of the Town of Innisfil,” notes Kelebeev, whose paintings were recently discovered online by residents of the town, contracting her to paint a number of landmarks in Innisfil.
“I’ve never gotten this much attention for my paintings… I get goosebumps!” expresses Kelebeev. “So many people are comforted by paintings so I feel I have to keep going.”
Art pieces range from ‘mother and child’ to kids on the potty, a disastrous living room, or spaghetti noodles in a child’s hair. But Kelebeev warns that some pieces depict harder struggles such as infertility.
“These are things we see as moms every day that resonates with us,” notes Kelebeev. “Lots of ‘hugs and cuddles’… but pieces of hardship too.”
Kelebeev collaborated with another artist, Jenny Belaiev who helped her create the event and both women will have their own artwork in the exhibit/auction. So far, the event will feature 10 local painters with 100 percent of the proceeds from winning bids going directly to the artists. Local artists are encouraged to use the hashtag #mamasartshow for this event.
“We’re supporting mothers with this talent, to give them more exposure and help them make a little extra [money] while making their day special!” exclaims Kelebeev. “There’s so much emotion going through our paintings right now, especially with Covid.”
Kelebeev shares that she is still accepting more paintings from local painters but states all artwork must fit the theme of the event: motherhood. She also encourages local painters to contact her if they wish to display their work at her art gallery in Concord.
“It changes you as a person,” shares Kelebeev describing both painting and enduring the Covid-19 pandemic. “But you gain some other strengths in the process… super-mom powers!”
To view the Mother’s Day Exhibit and Auction event on Facebook, visit: here.
To learn more about Maria Kelebeev’s artwork, visit her webpage here.
