A new art exhibition at Magdalen Road Studios has been created to celebrate the life of the much-loved, Oxford-born and raised social worker and mother of three, Ana Arroyave.
Exactly five years on from Ana’s premature death, Through Love by Maria Arroyave (established artist and sister of the deceased), will open on Friday, 05 September.
It will take the form of a series of mixed media and collage paintings that document how Maria has transformed her grief into real purpose. The exhibition will raise funds in Ana’s name for two charities, See Saw, a grief support charity for children and young people in Oxfordshire and the Stroke Association.
On announcing the exhibition, Maria Arroyave said: “My sister was a hugely popular and active member of the local community. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, only 30 people were allowed to attend her funeral, yet hundreds lined the streets in the pouring rain to say farewell.
This exhibition is for them and for her. To remember what she meant to us all and hopefully raise some funds for See Saw Charity and the Stroke Association in the process.”
Ana Arroyave was born in Oxford (1967), educated at Rye St Anthony School in Headington, and gained her degree in Social Work from Ruskin College, Oxford in 2005. She worked as a social worker, primarily in Education Social Work from 2005 to 2012 for Oxford County Council in Marston, and then Cowley.
Ana then progressed to Mental Health Services, working more with Emotional/Mental Health. She was also a Relax Kids coach and yoga teacher. She lived in Jericho with her husband and three children until she died in 2020 from a stroke.
The exhibition is scheduled to be at Magdalen Road Studios, 74 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE, and will open daily from 11.00am to 6.00pm and will run from 05 to 15 September.
A limited-edition print of one of the paintings, using Ana’s affirmation, ‘In Hope I Stand Fearless, In Hope I Stand Transformed’ will be sold at the exhibition, the proceeds from which will go to two charities in Ana Arroyave’s name; SeeSaw, a grief support charity for children and young people in Oxfordshire, and the Stroke Association.
Having originally trained in General Art & Design at Banbury Art School, followed by a BA(Hons) degree in Textiles in the early 1990’s at Birmingham University, it wasn’t until March 2020 during lockdown, that Maria returned to this great passion of art and painting. Maria has showcased her paintings at art fairs, and North London art gallery, Palette and Frame.
Maria’s artwork embodies a deeply expressive and intuitive style, characterized by layered textures and vibrant colours that reflect her profound connection to nature. Handmade collage pieces, mark-making and the use of a variety of mixed media, create depth and movement, inviting viewers into an immersive experience.
The exhibition at Magdalen Road Studios is comprised of 3 collections of paintings, all inspired by the artist’s sister, and is a tribute to the life and legacy of Ana Arroyave.
