Born in the Netherlands and based in Portugal, Gís Marí (born Gijs Maris in Haarlem, 1991) is known for his large-scale, abstract, expressionistic oil paintings. Originally studying psychology in Leiden, he was drawn into the world of painting when his apartment became his first studio. Instead of preparing for exams, he immersed himself in art. In his early twenties, he left university to dedicate his life entirely to painting.
Marí’s artistic journey began in Amsterdam, where he worked for two years at NDSM Wharf. However, discomfort with the city’s increasing gentrification led him south to Porto, where he transformed an abandoned industrial space into his home and atelier. After four intense years of work, he relocated to an old rice warehouse in the port town of Figueira da Foz, where he currently lives and paints.
For Marí, painting is a slow and meditative process, rooted in old-world values at odds with modern demands for speed and efficiency. He works on each piece for months, sometimes years, engaging in an ongoing dialogue with the canvas. Only his finest works are signed, while others are destroyed. Believing in the physical presence of his work, he avoids social media, insisting that a painting must be experienced in person.
Marí’s practice is an exploration of energy and emotion. He aims to provoke a response in the viewer—whether joy, sorrow, or contemplation—believing that art is meaningful when it leaves a lasting impact. He sees himself as a messenger, translating visions from his inner world into the shared external realm, much like Hermes from Greek mythology. This process, requiring deep concentration and solitude, ensures the uniqueness of each piece.
Nature remains Marí’s greatest teacher. Growing up in Amsterdam, he was influenced by the phrase Natura Artis Magistra—“Nature is the teacher of art.” He finds artistic mastery in the symmetry of a snail shell, the tension of an eagle’s claw, or the vivid contrast of a red berry against green leaves. These elements, perfected by nature long before human artistic theories, inspire his compositions.
For Marí, signing a painting is akin to cutting a lifeline—it marks the moment the work becomes independent. Though nurtured with care through materials, titles, and preservation, the painting ultimately stands on its own, ready to engage with the world and its viewers.
