bio

Originally from Mexico City, Maite Benito Agahnia, attributes her way of seeing the world around her to moving between different countries, languages, and cultures throughout her life. 

Equally fluent in her artistic practice, Benito Agahnia works in a variety of media: printmaking, painting, photography, and encaustic. She focuses on creating hybrid combinations of the various materials, giving her art unique and unexpected qualities.

Benito Agahnia’s work in graphic design and photography is evident in her paintings. Incorporating the structure of graphic design and photography in contrast to the freedom of abstraction, her work examines the relationship between the two. This exploration of balance and harmony is the cornerstone of the artist’s studio practice. 

Fresh and exciting, Benito Agahnia’s art is rich in layers of color, shapes, and texture. From her constant exploration of new materials to her unusual juxtapositions of structure and abstraction, Benito Agahnia’s work is both original and compelling. 

Her work has been commissioned by several commercial developments including Rancho Valencia Resort in California and  First Service Residential in New York. 

artist statement

Transformation and rebirth are the central themes explored in my work. An original idea that evolves into something completely different is a concept that I keep revisiting. The challenges, the surprises, and the accidents are what I find most provocative. And even though, unsuccessful at times, they eventually lead me in a new intriguing direction.

My process for each piece is unique and specific to that one painting. Therefore working in the different media requires a nuanced response and approach to each work. As a result, my art is varied in style while my deep interest in color, texture, and abstraction is consistent throughout.

I believe my art is a conversation between my instinct and the materials I use, dynamic and compelling. And although every piece has a purpose and meaning for me, ultimately, my goal is that the finished piece is open to interpretation and connection by the viewer.  

cv

Education
San Diego State University, Bachelor of Art
Continued arts education with Reed Cardwell, Brooke Shaden, Lucila Santiago, San Diego Art Institute, Athenaeum, and Art Academy San Diego

Upcoming Exhibitions
2023
GlobalArtelier21, YAH, Milan, Italy

Solo Exhibitions
2014
One Second, Outside The Lens, Point Loma, CA
2015 – 2017
New Work, MBA Gallery and Studio, Del Mar, CA
2013
Strangers, LJCDS Gallery La Jolla, CA
2009
In Living Color, Seacrest Village Gallery, Encinitas CA

Group Exhibitions | Selected
2022
2022 Turning Tides, BFree Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2022 Artist Alliance Biennial, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA
2021
Seven Women Artists, Rebecca Molayem Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
NOW, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA
2020
20/20, Twenty Women Of Vision, Fresh Paint Gallery, La Jolla, CA
2019
Integrated Public Art, Emeryville, CA
2018
Seventeen on Being Seventeen, William D Canon Gallery, Carlsbad, CA
2016
Shouts + Whispers, India Street Gallery, San Diego, CA
2012
Rancho Valencia Resort, 70 original paintings commissioned for private collection, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Zona Maco, Arte Contemporáneo, Mexico City, MX
Works on Paper, Pigment, San Diego, CA
SDAI Regional Juried, Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, CA, Jurors Choice
2011
San Dieguito Art Guild, Off Track Gallery, Encinitas, CA, Best in Show
Featured Artist, Artwalk, San Diego, CA
Passion6, Noel Baza Gallery, San Diego, CA
SDAI Regional Juried, Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, CA
2010
Temptation6, India Street Gallery, San Diego, CA
SDAI Regional Juried, Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, CA
XIX Annual Juried Exhibition, Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA
2009
UnFramed, Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA
2008
XVII Annual Juried Exhibition, Athenaeum, La Jolla, CA
California Juried Exhibition, Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego, CA

Affiliations
Outside The Lens Board Chair
Founding Member Outside The Lens
Founding member, TWA a mastermind group
Founding member, Art6west a mastermind group