Maria Snyder

Maria Snyder is an artist, designer, model, activist and entrepreneur. Snyder's background as a fine artist began in her youth as a painter and sculptor. She is the daughter of industrialist real estate developer, Arthur T. Snyder, an early pioneer in the revitalization of Portland, Maine. Maria attended school in Athens, Greece, studied at the American University in Paris and received a Master's Degree in 20th Century Art History.

Modeling career
While in Paris, Maria was discovered by Yves Saint Laurent after Marisa Berenson introduced her to Saint Laurent's muse, Loulou de la Falaise. Maria quickly rose to fame within the fashion industry as one of Saint Laurent's chosen models. This launched an international modeling career and work with designers Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, Gianni Versace, Moschino, Armani, Emanuel Ungaro, Calvin Klein and Geoffrey Beene. She has also worked with photography giants Helmut Newton, Steven Meisel, Matthew Rolston and closely with legendary David LaChapelle. Maria was a muse to celebrated artist Alex Katz and to one of the greatest fashion illustrators in history, Antonio Lopez and is featured as the cover art of his book, Antonio's People. After moving to New York, Andy Warhol encouraged Maria's art and when embarking on a fashion career remarked, "A photo of you is all people need to see to launch your career." Maria was also featured in Norma Kamali's campaign with Andie MacDowell and Dolce & Gabbana's campaign with Monica Bellucci. Maria was immortalized in Dick Tracy's comic strips as the inspiration for the "designing woman" character in the series.

Fashion career
Maria's career in fashion was spearheaded by Anouk Aimée's daughter, Manuela Papatakis. She introduced her to Diane von Fürstenberg who gave Maria her first exhibition featuring her jewelry as art. Maria's pieces, which included both costume and fine jewelry, were shown in Estee Lauder and Revlon advertising campaigns. Maria then launched a fashion business. Maria developed collections featuring hand painted silk, elegant bead work and graphic prints. She showcased her collections in Paris and New York and began shipping to specialty and department stores around the globe. She also worked on a line of jewelry for Emilio Pucci and created fanciful bracelets for New York's Museum of Modern Art. Felissimo then partnered with Maria and featured her wearable art and jewelry collections. Maria was also hailed by Felissimo for being "one of the first designers to introduce an exclusive eco collection from recycled materials." Her designs were worn by celebrities, models and aristocrats including Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley, Anne Hearst, Mrs. Henry Ford, Princess Olga of Greece and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece.

Message Brands
Maria's most recent brands, Eco Boys and Girls, EcoBrands, A Message of Love and IAM, deliver messages of environmental awareness and interconnectedness. In 2010, Maria launched Eco Boys and Girls, an educational tool for children to learn, engage and participate with simple but direct messages of love, peace and environmental awareness. Eco Boys and Girls premiered at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey on April 24, 2010. Since then, the National Education Association (NEA) has adopted Eco Boys and Girls lesson plans into their curriculum. The NEA and Friends of the United Nations have also welcomed the Eco Boys and Girls as pro-environmental advocates. The NEA's Green Across America Program features the Eco Boys and Girls as icons. In 2011, Eco Boys and Girls were featured presenters in Grand Central Terminal's Earth Day 2011 celebration, as well as featured partners at American Renewable Energy Day 2011 in Aspen, Colorado, August 2011.

In addition, the Eco Boys and Girls short film has been selected to present at Global Peace Film Festival, Sustainable Planet Film Festival, Artivist Film Festival and presented at American Renewable Energy Day. Friends of the United Nations presents Eco Boys and Girls, the Millennium Kids at the United Nations to share awareness of UN Millennium Goals. In September, 2010 the Association of Science and Technology Centers presented the Eco Boys and Girls as participants in their call to action for science education to support the Millennium Development Goals.

Leading a New Generation of Artists
Maria is receiving increasing recognition as "Leading a New Generation of Artists for Peace". In 2009 the Fulbright Center featured Maria's HeartsUnite painting at The Global Symposium of Peaceful Nations in Washington, D.C.. Her MandalaLoveBubbles triptych artwork is currently on permanent display at the Medical City Children's Hospital in Dallas, Texas. The American Public Health Association (APHA) at the annual conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania describes Maria's art "as an emerging body of work that spans graphic, advertising, and fine arts in techniques and media while discussing the challenges of bringing images and ideas about peace into the modern mainstream after decades of marginalization." Maria's 35 foot mural, Wall Of Peace’n Love, was installed in the entranceway to the new Medical City Children's Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Maria Snyder was a speaker on her PeaceART at the Newark Peace Education Summit. Her discussion Global Call to Action through PeaceART is a project that helps empower children around the world through art and action, utilizing murals, film, and prose.

Honors, Boards, Awards
Tiffany and Co. announced Maria as "One of America's Hottest Fashion Designers" along with Isaac Mizrahi and Anna Sui. She has been recognized by the Encyclopedia of Costume Jewelry as "one of the few top jewelry designers to collect." Maria has been nominated to the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the International Best Dressed List. She has been named Ambassador of Arts to the Middle East Peace Civic Forum and is an Advisory Board Member to the International Committee against Mental Illness.