Marina Soria was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1961.
She obtained both a BA in Fine Arts (5 years study) and a BA in Graphic Design and Publicity (3 years study) in Buenos Aires. Besides formal education, her training includes two years in Hector Medici’s Art Studio, a year course on Sculpture in the School of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires and a year workshops in sumi-e and Western painting.
Between 1989 and 1995, she was a professor at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), teaching Graphic Design first and later a course in Editorial Design. While at UBA, she met Carole Johnson, an American calligrapher, who introduced her into the calligraphic arts. In 1998, she was promoted to Associated Professor and started teaching a course on Typography, which introduced students to the basics of calligraphy and calligraphic alphabet, a subject never before taught in Argentina. Thereafter calligraphy became a compulsory subject at the Graphic Design course.
She was a founding member of Calígrafos de la Cruz del Sur, the first group of calligraphers in South America. Between 1997 and 2006, the group conducted outstanding performances in Buenos Aires, promoting calligraphy through lectures at universities, conferences, workshops and exhibitions.
Currently, she works as a fine arts artist and calligrapher in her private studio, doing works upon request and creating books. As far as teaching is concerned, she offers workshops on calligraphy for adults all year round and she tries to make calligraphy accessible to children through workshops and lectures in schools.
“I have always been deeply seduced by lettersforms since I was a teenager.
Written language is not only a complex system of communication, but the realm of style and form. To express perceptions or sensibilities through syntax, letterform and rhythm represents the most complete of all messages to me.
In the calligraphic arts, I found the way to convey my inner thoughts and reflections about life. My main interest is to mingle and blend diverse disciplines: art, design, sumie-e and calligraphy to challenge the limits of conceptual art and techniques.
But my ultimate thouhgt could be expressed in Sandra R Wagner words: ˝in art lies my sanity˝.
I has devoted a significant portion of my life to art”.