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Biography

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Maria Nissan is an environmental Assyrian artist born in the U.S with international experience in Europe, in the Middle East, and more recently in South-East Asia.

 

She graduated with a bachelor's in Art Education and a Master's degree in Studio Arts from Florence,Italy. Maria takes a lot of her inspiration from her cultural and family Assyrian roots.

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Since her studies in Italy, Maria’s passion for the last 10 years has been transforming trash into art as a medium to challenge what people buy, how they consume, and dispose of it.

Either through drawings, immersive installations, or exhibitions, her creations are tackling issues about plastic pollution, waste consumption, and other environmental and societal concerns.

 

In emerging countries, Maria continues focusing on plastic pollution in urban and natural environments through MicroPlasticsJO’s projects and art exhibitions.

 

Her artistic creations have been showcased by numerous galleries and prestigious events, garnering attention from an array of global media outlets that have sought to capture and share her work with audiences far and wide.

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Assyrian Art by Maria Nissan

I'm Maria Nissan, an Assyrian artist on a mission to create art that speaks for our environment.

 

I was born in the U.S, but my artistic journey has taken me across continents, from Europe to the Middle East, and now to vibrant South-East Asia.

 

​My background includes a bachelor's degree in Art Education and a Master's degree in Studio Arts from Florence, Italy.

 

My Assyrian roots and the warmth of family traditions fuel much of my creative drive.

Maria.png

I'm Maria Nissan, an Assyrian artist on a mission to create art that speaks for our environment.

 

I was born in the U.S, but my artistic journey has taken me across continents, from Europe to the Middle East, and now to vibrant South-East Asia.

 

​My background includes a bachelor's degree in Art Education and a Master's degree in Studio Arts from Florence, Italy.

 

My Assyrian roots and the warmth of family traditions fuel much of my creative drive.

Fighting single-use plastic through art, her work has been covered in more than 60 media outlets  25+ countries. 

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Media exposure is a powerful tool to raise awareness about single-use plastic pollution and its environmental, economic, and health consequences. 

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it also helps her reach out to more people on my social media which is essential to continue being able to produce environmentally-conscious art.

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Through projects with MicroPlasticsJO, the non-profit organization Maria co-founded, she is working to make a difference where it matters most.

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Together with local communities, Maria builds awareness about single-use plastic consumption and pollution among the youth from underprivileged youth. 

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With her partner, co-founder of MicroPlasticsJO, they have been running projects in Jordan, Thailand and Indonesia hand in hand with local organizations. 

The challenge of single-use plastic pollution might seem complex, but her message is simple and clear.

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We have a choice: we can either be part of the solution or contribute to the problem by adding to the pollution.

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Every one of us has the power to make mindful decisions and better choices in our everyday lives. It's as simple as saying no to single-use plastic and finding sustainable ways to deal with plastic waste.

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Let's embark on this journey together. By making small changes, we can create a big impact. Whether it's refusing that plastic straw or properly recycling, each action adds up to a world where plastic pollution is minimized. Together, we're writing a story of change, one step at a time, for a cleaner and healthier planet.

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Running in harmony with her commitments at MicroPlasticsJO, Maria shines as a dedicated online English educator.

 

Across multiple digital platforms, she enthusiastically imparts environmental awareness to her students through the medium of English lessons, with a particular focus on addressing pressing concerns like the issue of single-use plastic pollution.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS / EVENTS

2025

  • “Reimagine: Contemporary Georgia Artists” — Georgia Council for the Arts Traveling Exhibition, Artisans on the Square, Greenville, GA

  • Assyrian Martyrs Day — Art Exhibit — Ashur Assyrian American Association of Connecticut, CT
     

 

2024

  • AANF 91st Annual Assyrian National Convention — Orlando, FL

  • MésopotamiArt (Quand la Mésopotamie lie les cultures) — Sarcelles, France

  • “In the Eye of the Beholder: From Trash to Treasure” — Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, Tifton, GA

  • Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. “Art Fête” (SAAM) — North Charleston, SC
     

 

2023

  • AANF 90th Assyrian National Convention — Anaheim, CA

  • Assyrian Arts Institute — Irvine, CA
     

 

2022

  • Summer Mark It! Festival — SALT, Jordan

  • Landmark Hotel Exhibition — Amman, Jordan
     

 

2021

  • Feminism and Ecology — The Art Hub Gallery, Amman, Jordan

  • Ecological Curtain — The Fadjo Gallery, Amman, Jordan

  • Sea Through — The Spilled Milk Gallery, Amman, Jordan

  • Pop-Up Show — The Spilled Milk Gallery, Amman, Jordan

  • Pop-Up Show — Abdali Boulevard, Amman, Jordan

  • Car-P.E.T. — Dar Art Fair, Amman, Jordan

  • Car-P.E.T. — Ruwwad, Jabal Natheef, Jordan

  • To Exist is to Resist — Dar Art Fair, Amman, Jordan

  • Endangered Animal Species — Jodar Artistry, Amman, Jordan
     

 

2020

  • Endangered Animal Species — Jodar Artistry, Amman, Jordan

  • Plastic Oceans for Parliament — Recycle Art Festival, Ras Al-Ain Gallery, Amman, Jordan

  • A Plastic Christmas — The Corner Art Space, Amman, Jordan

  • Plastic Oceans — Wadi Finan Art Gallery, Amman, Jordan
     

 

2018

  • 18,443 Souls — Galleria Il Ponte, Florence, Italy

  • CreOut – L’Arte di creare fuori — Palazzo Spinelli, Florence, Italy

  • Il Filo degli Altri (The Thread of the Others) — S.A.C.I, Florence, Italy
     

 

2015

  • Happy Valley Show — Happy Valley, Athens, GA
     

 

2014

  • Exit Show – Art Education — Bridge Gallery, Athens, GA

  • Within a Bounded Field — Bridge Gallery, Athens, GA

  • Ceramic Installation — University of Georgia (U.G.A.), Athens, GA

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SOLO EXHIBITIONS/ SITE-SPECIFIC PROJECTS
 

2023

  • Upcycled plastic bottles and bags into indoor decor, Loo Skins Event, Sweifieh Village, Amman, Jordan
     

 

2022

  • Upcycled flower selfie booth, Save Soil Movement – Landmark hotel, Amman, Jordan

  • Upcycled flower photo booth, Jordan Municipal Support project / Federation of Canadian municipalities

Karak, Jordan

  • Black Iris flower, Amman International Film Festival, Abdali Boulevard, Jordan

  • Garden Flowers, Moab Park, Moab Municipality/ Federation of Canadian municipalities, Moab, Jordan

  • Upcycled Chandelier Wall, Qadiseyeh Park, Al Qadiseyeh Municipality/ Federation of Canadian municipalities, Dana, Jordan
     

 

2021

  • Germaphobia, Green Amman, Amman, Jordan

  • Feminism and Ecology, Landmark Hotel, Amman, Jordan
     

 

2019

  • Plastic Oceans Book, Manara Arts and Culture, plastic book, Amman, Jordan

  • 2,205 Plastic Oceans, Orient Gallery, Amman, Jordan

  • 976 Plastic Oceans, Wild Jordan Center, Amman, Jordan

  • 1,120+ Plastic Oceans, Q0DE Artspace , Curated by Maral Tajirian, Amman, Jordan

  • 565 Plastic Oceans, Jadal for Knowledge and Culture , Amman, Jordan

  • Plastic Oceans,,Dar Al-Anda Art Gallery , Curated by Majdoline Al Ghoul Amman, Jordan

  • 546 Plastic Oceans, Victoria Square Project , Curated by George Kalivis, Athens, Greece

  • 380 Plastic Oceans, Mystic Earth, Amman, Jordan
     

 

2018

  • A morning of Jasmine , School Mural, Happy Caravan, Lamia, Greece

  • Colliding Worlds, School Mural, Happy Caravan, Lamia, Greece

  • S.A.M Single Adult Men, in collaboration with local homeless refugee men, Athens,Greece

  • Not Seen in Photo, in collaboration with local homeless refugees in Victoria Square, Athens,Greece

  • 440 Transparent Documents, in collaboration with local refugees in Victoria Square, Athens,Greece

  • Art Therapy with Refugee children, Communitism, Athens, Greece

  • Harry Potter Art Therapy STEAM, Hestia Hellas, Athens, Greece

  • Interpretations of a Seed, in collaboration with Victoria deBlassie, curated by Daria Filardo, Le Murate, Florence, Italy

  • Chapters of Italy, Curated by Pietro Gagliano’, Maidoff Gallery, Florence, Italy

  • Home is My Skin, Curated by Pietro Gagliano’, Maidoff Gallery, Florence, Italy
     

 

2016 - 2017

  • My Fragrance Since Birth, S.A.C.I, Florence, Italy

  • My Mother Was My First Country, Performance/Installation,Maidoff Palazzo, Florence, Italy

  • New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings, Paintings, Terrapin Gallery, Athens, GA

© 2025.-  all images are subject to copyright 

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