MARIA HENLE 1955-2007

n eighteenth century loft in the heart of Christiansted in the US Virgin Islands is the studio and gallery of artist Maria Henle.

Raised on St. Croix, Ms. Henle studied art in Florence, Italy, and lived in New York for twelve years devoting herself to fine art printmaking.

Her intricate color etchings, described as "virtuoso performances in which command of technique is beautifully subordinated to overall effect" (Eleanor Heartney, ArtNews, April 1984), were created at New Yorkıs Printmaking Workshop between 1980 and 1992.

The etchings have been exhibited in both one person and group shows across the US and internationally. They are in numerous private and corporate collections, among them Metropolitan Life, Bank of America, Delta Airlines, US Airways, Time Inc., and the University of Texas. She received a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship for her graphic work in 1986.

nterested in exploring painting as a medium, she returned to her island home in 1992. The clear light and expansiveness of her Caribbean surroundings have had a strong influence on her work.

Employing the trademark multiple image device she developed in her color etchings, she layers various views of her subject in oil on canvas to create paintings that are at once realistic depictions of landscape, yet abstract in their formal fragmentation, and heightened in their illusion of movement and depth by the juxtaposition of their varied elements.

aria Henle's oil paintings were selected for publication in New American Paintings, June 1998. She is featured in the October 2001 issue of Caribbean Travel & Life.
Her paintings are in many private collections in the islands and on the mainland. Currently, Galeria Palomas in San Juan and Savannah Gallery in Anguilla represent her work.

ince 1993 Maria Henle Studio had been the artist's premier showcase. All have been saddened by her passing in February 2007.

he beautiful historic loft gallery continues to feature Maria's works as well as the work of other select artists. It is the exclusive representative of the artist's father, photographer Fritz Henle and sister, photographer Tina Henle.