Maria Chirco è nata a Erice, vive e lavora attualmente a Marsala. Ha studiato presso l’Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo e l’Accademia di Belle Arti di Norimberga. La sua passione per la fotografia si concretizza durante gli anni universitari, dove ha la possibilità di crescere dal punto di vista della tecnica e della ricerca artistica. In questo periodo, partecipa a diverse mostre collettive di arte contemporanea nella Sicilia occidentale. Terminando gli studi nel 2006 con il massimo dei voti, si trasferisce in Germania, entrando così in un circuito artistico più vasto, esprimendosi presso importanti esposizioni sia collettive che personali. In Baviera gestisce uno studio fotografico professionale e lavora anche per un importante centro culturale nella città di Fürth, riuscendo così ad acquisire esperienza ed ottenere una certa notorietà. Tornata in Italia ha cominciato ad interessarsi anche ad un linguaggio artistico connesso alle istallazioni sonore ed all’uso di immagini legate ad esse. Gli scatti di Maria Chirco vengono realizzati principalmente  con l'uso di macchine fotografiche analogiche e  l'impiego di sviluppi manuali.

Maria Chirco, born in Erice (Italy), has been working with Photography for more than 15 years. She studied at the ADBK in Nuremberg and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Palermo where she was graduated with honors in 2006. The German experience was the most important growing point for her artistic path. Her works are mainly focused on an introspective research, using photography to give life to surreal and dreamlike images, tracing autobiographical textures, exploring feelings through them in the different contexts of existence. Her photos are mainly realized with the use of analogical cameras and manual darkroom development. Maria Chirco is currently living and working between Italy, Germany and Malta.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2016
- "2016 days of awesome photo books", December 10th 2016 - Feb 4th. 2017. LhGWR gallery The Hague, Netherlands.
- Deutsches Hirtenmuseum Hersbruck, 26.1. 2017January 2017, "Nei meandri della bellezza", Hersbruck, Germany.
- Der Greif / A Process 2.0, Group Exhibition, Krakow Photomonth 2016

2015
- Still Talking, Open Studio Exhibition, IAM, Berlin.
- Venature, 100 artisti per l'expo, Group Exhibition, Abbiategrasso, Italy.
- The Selfie Show, MONA - Museum of New Art, Detroit, USA

2014
- Wurzeln mehr Aufmerksamkeit widmen , Group Exhibition, , Kunstverein Familie Montez, Honsellbrücke       Frankfurt, Germany.
- Risguardi, letture in opera, Group Exhibition, Bookshop Easy Reader, Palermo, Italy.

2013
- Berlin Speed Darting, selected photographer, Das Gift, Berlin Neukölln, Germany.
- Donna Ri-conoscenza, Donne che fotografano le donne, Group Exhibition, by Galleria Luigi Ghirri, Regional Museum of Ceramic, Caltagirone, Italy.
- Fotografia Europea 2013/Circuito Off, Group Exhibition, Museo dei Cappuccini di Reggio Emilia, by Galleria Luigi Ghirri, Caltagirone, Italy.

2012
- Fotografia Europea /Circuito Off, Group Exhibition by Galleria Luigi Ghirri, Gattatico (RE), Italy.

2011
- Werkschau 2011, Group Exhibition, Nuremberg, Germaniy.
- Traffic 2011, Group Exhibition, by Giancarlo Lepore, Urbania, Italy
- Good 50x70, Group Exhibition of Posters by Good Design Society, Piazza Cordusio,Milan, Italy.

 2010
- Echo der Stille, Solo Exhibition, Salemi, Italy
- Die kunst das Auto, Solo Exhibition, Essepiauto Volkswagen, Mazara del Vallo, Italy.

2009
- Reich Der Stille, Solo Exhibition, Galleria Luigi Ghirri, Caltagirone (CT), Italy
- I Ritrattist , Group Exhibition by Sabrina Falzone, Galleria Il Borgo, Milan, Italy.

2008
- Gastspiel 2008, Fürther Kunstwochenende, Group Exhibition by Kulturing C Society, Fürth (Bay),Germany.
- Jahresausstellung, Photography Class Olaf Unverzart, Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Nuremberg, Germany.

2007
- Diagnosis, Group Exhibition, Polish Institute, Budapest, Ungary.
- Incroci possibili alla Ghirri, Solo Exhibition, Galleria Luigi Ghirri, Caltagirone , Italy

2006
- Frauen Austellung, Group Exhibition, Kuenstlerei 68 Galerie, Nuremberg, Germany.

2005
- Kunststudenten aus dem Ausland, Group Exhibition, Link 2000-2005 Galerie, Sued West Park Nuremberg, Germany.
- Jahresausstellung, class prof. Peter Angermann, Group Exhibition, Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Nuremberg, Germany

2004
- Passport#1, Group Exhibition, Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, Palermo, Italia.

2003
- Palermo, città e mare, Group Exhibition, Stand Florio, Palermo, Italia.

- Cultartes, by Daniel Alexander, 2016
-  "New Cats in Art Photography", by Humble Arts Foundation, New York City, 2014
- C-41 Magazine, 2014
- Weekly Photo/Week 61, Stefanie Seidl's Berlin Weekly.com, 2013
- Profile of the day, Artconnect Berlin. 2013,2014
- La Beautè de Pandore, 2013

COLLABORATIONS
- Beingeverywhere by Stefan Riebel, 2016
- My_Spam / Songs of love by Stefan Riebel, 2016- Film Your Face by Florian Tuercke, Video Installation, 2015

PRIZE

- First Prize, Photography Contest and Competition Occhionirico , Trapani, Italy, 2014.RESIDENCIES