Marina May Raike

My work is colourful, contemporary and Canadian. I’m passionate about this beautiful land and it’s rugged geography. I also love abstract expressionism and the amazing way that certain colours affect us emotionally. Through colour and form, I hope to move the viewer toward a greater appreciation of nature in its most potent aspects. My underlying themes address our deep, but delicate connection with the ecosystem and the need to relinquish control over the environment.

Marina May Raike was born in the Greater Toronto Area. She studied Abstract Expressionism in the experimental arts department at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Her appreciation of work by Canadian artists David Bierk and Wanda Koop influences her action-painterly landscapes. Marina's current body of work explores her connection with the Canadian Shield, the Great Lakes, and Northern Ontario. Her renditions of natural elements and ancient geological forms evoke an awareness of our place within the ecosystem. Marina has a BFA from OCADU, where she was awarded the Forsythe Scholarship for drawing and painting. She has exhibited across Canada, the United States and internationally. Her work has appeared on the TV series ‘Suits’, in British Vogue, The Huffington Post, and in noteworthy collections in North America and overseas. Marina enjoys giving artist talks and has spoken at Ryerson University and The Canadian Society for Art of the Imagination.