Maria Mayer studied at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle/Saale, in the textile class under Prof. Bettina Göttke-Krogmann and object/glass under Prof. Christine Triebsch.

 

She has initiated cross-class projects and collaborations and her artistic practice focuses on the exploration and combination of materials and raw materials. In particular, the integration of glass and unconventional materials such as mycelium, plants and bacteria in textile techniques. Mayer works on combining research, art and design to explore the aesthetic and functional boundaries of materiality. Her works have received international attention.

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In collaboration with the Materialdesigners project in Milan and Academic for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona, she was able to work on projects at the interface between design and biotechnology. 

She lived and worked in Munich, Halle and abroad before moving back to the Bavarian Alps, where she was born and grew up. Today she lives in Dießen am Ammersee.

As artistic director, she is involved in the cultural collective Freie Kunstanstalt an Offspace in Dießen am Ammersee and is involved in curating exhibitions.

 

Maria Mayer has received several grants and prizes, including the international BKV prize, the artist grant from the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the "Kunst für uns" project grant from the BBK Bayern and an "Artist in Lab" research grant from TUM Organisation Munich, where she is currently researching mycelium-based embroidery. 

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Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, such as at a.topos Venice in Italy and the Dutch Design Week Eindhoven in the Netherlands.