Meet Curator Maritza Benson

We recently met up with South Florida Curator Maritza Benson to learn more about her art, design and curatorial career, as well as the cool projects she’s been working on. Maritza is a native of Miami where she attended Miami Dade College and Florida Atlantic University, studying Art, Antiques, Interior Design and Decorating. Maritza developed a love for art, music, and culture at an early age, while enjoying the galleries, museums, and the emerging music and cultural scene that would later become Wynwood. As a native Floridian, she has experienced the blossoming art scene both in Miami and now in Fort Lauderdale.

After many years working as an interior stylist and art curator, Maritza created her own process where the art acts as the inspiration for the design of the project. “ I find that art moves people in such a personal way that I use it as the starting point in my design,” said Maritza. We were lucky to work alongside Maritza at Studio 18 of Pembroke Pines in October 2021 when she curated the exhibition, “Coping Behind The Mask”, and Miami Art Scene™ was promoting Let LOVE Guide Your Way kinetic weathervane by Public Artist Lloyd Goradesky, the centerpiece of the exhibition.

We recently had the pleasure to chat with Maritza and learn more about her as a person, her art career, and current projects.

Q – Can you tell us about Studio 18 in the Pines and what it was like to be the Curator and Community Engagement Coordinator of the facility, gallery and artist studios there? It was you who put the venue on our radar.

A – Being the curator of Studio 18 was an experience in being flexible. As soon as I got started there the entire world was shut down for the pandemic. I was able to get one exhibit off the ground and have an opening reception but everything changed in March 2020. After being sent home for what started out as only 2 weeks, I quickly realized that this would last longer than two weeks and I would need to do something different to keep the arts alive while the gallery was closed. I researched what I could do and I created short videos of the curated work that I had planned for the gallery and I also created video workshops. This kept me engaged with the artists and helped me continue to provide art for the community, especially at a time when it was most needed.

Q – You have such a unique style and keen sense for art, with an innate ability to organize and produce some of the most impressive exhibitions and art events in South Florida. How do you come up with ideas for exhibits and shows, what inspires you?

A – I am inspired by the natural world and all its inhabitants, by stories from all the people I have come in contact with; by books I have read and movies I have seen, all the people I come into contact with, and the musings in my head. I have had a lot of experiences in my life and I see things that others might ignore. I find that I have a lot of thoughts and feelings to express that are larger than myself, and I have an opportunity to express them. I feel that in bringing together artists that share my vision, I am able to express my inner thoughts and visions, and hopefully connect people through art.

Q – Your background is in the design industry, we met years ago at DCOTA, the Design Center of the Americas in Dania Beach, Florida. Design is so closely intertwined with contemporary art, in what ways do you feel this gives you an edge and strength as a curator and art expert?

A – I always had a love for all things design, be it art, furniture, lighting, or spaces. As a designer, my goal was always to capture the true essence of my client’s vision and create a space that they could truly call their own. I started a new design project in an unconventional manner by bringing my clients to galleries and museums. Art is subjective and the perfect place for me to start to envision what my client wanted to see in their space. In the gallery, I would just follow my clients around and see what they gravitated towards and when they would stop and stare at a piece, I would make a mental note as to the style, colors, theme, and other qualities the art piece had that drew them to contemplate the work. Subsequent conversations about the piece brought out personal stories, memories, and a sense of intimacy with my client that I could not have otherwise reached without the inclusion of the art experience. Having the design background helps me see a space that I will be curating in a different light. I take into consideration the audience and how they will inhabit the space and interact with the art. I see what art inspires people and what art is simply decorative. Both are valuable but I always look to inspire and stir people’s emotions.

Q – We enjoyed the exhibition Coping Behind the Mask, which you recently curated at Studio 18 in the Pines that opened October 1, 2021. In your opinion, how can we use the arts to inspire action or positive change in the world?

A – This exhibition came about after a personal journey in which I needed to find a way to cope with my life circumstances and find peace. I looked inward and found that the act of creation was my solace. Every time I engaged in art creation or even viewing art, I was transported to a space inside me that was tranquil, boundless, and joyful. With this exhibition I wanted to express that same feeling and provide others with the experience. I decided to find artists that were using their art creation as a way to cope with issues as I had done. I was delighted to see that this resonated with so many artists and I provided a means for them to express these feelings while also providing a space of exploration for the audience to stop and look at the value of art creation as a way to cope with difficulties.

Q – What do you love most about being a Curator?

A – I love connecting with artists, promoting their work, and sharing their visions with the world. I feel that I have deep insight to express and art is the means to express it. I am blessed to connect with such talented individuals that let me use their expressions to weave the stories that I want to tell.

Q – You’ve worked on so many incredible projects over the years, what was your most enjoyable and why?

A – My most memorable project was for the Puppet Network. I was tasked with creating an exhibition featuring puppets in a working warehouse. It was a huge undertaking since I had 5 days to create walls, lighting, displays, and gallery space to feature puppets that were prized and well known in this community. It was a daunting task and definitely outside of my comfort zone. Gratefully I had an assistant named Luis who could read my mind and helped me find items I could use to create the gallery space. I created a vignette for each puppet in order to give them the prominence they deserved. After 5 days and nights of work the exhibit was a success and the audience was impressed to see puppets displayed in such a professional manner.

Q – What’s on the horizon for you? We see you continuing to curate inspiring exhibitions and art collections, while continuing to introduce us to new, fresh artists and cutting-edge art.

A – I have many ideas that I want to manifest. Right now, I am entertaining the idea of creating immersive exhibitions and I am rethinking what constitutes a gallery space since the pandemic has reframed everything. I am interested in belief structures and the nature of existence itself so I am sure that these ideas will lead to future exhibitions.