Maria Danyal is a Lahore-based visual artist known for her evocative landscape and cityscape paintings. Her work often captures scenes that are gradually disappearing from the urban and rural fabric of Pakistan, rendered in oil on canvas and watercolours. She emphasizes subtlety and observation, using a diverse colour palette to bring fading environments to life.

Education and Early Career
Maria earned her Master of Fine Arts from the Punjab University College of Art and Design (PUCAD) between 2002 and 2004. Although she passed the PhD entry test in 2005, she chose not to pursue the program. That same year, she collaborated on research projects and exhibited her work internationally in Berkeley, California. She also participated in group exhibitions at various local galleries.

Artistic Themes and Exhibitions
Maria's art focuses on landscapes and cityscapes, regularly depicting subjects that are slowly vanishing from sight. She decides live locations for her subjects, involving detailed observation to transfer them onto canvas. Her paintings aim to reveal these fading scenes in her unique style, using a diverse range of colours and applications.

Her work has been showcased in various exhibitions, including national group shows and art award exhibitions. She was also nominated for the Anna Molka Art Award.

Community Engagement
Beyond her studio practice, Maria is dedicated to community engagement. She works as an art instructor and trainer for individuals with special needs, promoting their artistic skills and organizing exhibitions of their work. Additionally, she is involved in efforts to revive traditional hand arts and crafts, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage.

Selected Works
Maria’s paintings include pieces such as "Bag-e-Jinnah,” “Bougainvillea Lore,” and “A Giant Sumbal Tree.” Her artwork often features detailed depictions of natural and architectural scenes, blending realism with expressive brushwork.