Biography
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.
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.
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.
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.
Media exposure is a powerful tool to raise awareness about single-use plastic pollution and its environmental, economic, and health consequences.
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.
Through projects with MicroPlasticsJO, the non-profit organization Maria co-founded, she is working to make a difference where it matters most.
Together with local communities, Maria builds awareness about single-use plastic consumption and pollution among the youth from underprivileged youth.
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.
We have a choice: we can either be part of the solution or contribute to the problem by adding to the pollution.
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.
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.
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.