My name is Maria Talasz and I am a juried independent artist from Eagle River, Alaska. My intricate equine sculptures include movement through careful design and assembly and can be positioned allowing the art to represent many natural expressions that horses are capable of. The moving parts include jointed legs, hooves, ears and a carefully sculpted neck of over 50 pieces. My favorite medium for the horses is fine cherry wood, supplemented with leather and other natural materials. The horses' parts are sculpted, put together, and then painted with historic oil paints. Each sculpture takes over a year to be fully completed.

Originally from the Netherlands, I am self-taught in a wide range of media with many of my wooden, painted wall hangings made in commission and in private collections. My works are rarely rectangular or on canvas as I love the material itself being a factor in the work.

Horses have played an important role in my life from a very early age, and they continue to be a big part in my art today. I try to bring them to life, rather than creating a static wood or bronze piece. I experience the relationship and moments from memory caring for horses as I pursue to recreate the movements. From the shift in weight to another leg being put on a hoof to the expression of curiosity switching quickly to irritation with the simple movement of the ears. My equine inspired work has been accepted and exhibited in Juried Exhibitions at the American Academy of Equine Art.