About me
Maria Rapela
San José, Costa Rica, 19179
Born under the vibrant and tropical Costa Rican sun in 1979, I embarked on a journey that led me to the heart of Berlin in 2008. My life has been a canvas, richly painted with over two and a half decades dedicated to the exploration and innovation in the realm of visual arts.
Of Costa Rican father and Argentinean mother, I was born in a middle class and multicultural family in the capital of a Central American country. My childhood in the 80’s and adolescence took place in the nineties.
Both my mother and father seemed to appreciate arts and culture, somehow pushing us to experiment in those areas.
Early Beginnings and Artistic Exploration
Between 1990 and 1993 I lived with my family in France (Montpellier), where the interest in art became more important. There I took my first art courses for children and decided to dedicate myself to this.
Back in Costa Rica and with 14 years old, I started my adventure in art, diving into the colorful world of painting.
The painting workshop of Master Eduardo Barracosa in Escazú, was an important space for the development of my work. There I studied and shared the studio with other local artists for more than 12 years.
I didn’t just stick to art though; I also studied anthropology in the University of Costa Rica, which gave me a deep understanding of people and cultures. (2000-2005)
Total turnaround, new life in another continent, another country and city: Berlin
I came to Berlin, because of love and with the idea that here I could dedicate myself to art, while adapting and learning the language.
I set up my studio and since then I have been working, some years more intensely than others. The first years I was inspired by the idea of a new city, by the changing seasons, the colors and temperatures of life in a Nordic country. Paintings that I presented in a small limited edition book: Berlin Seasons.
I tried to exhibit wherever I could both in Berlin and in Europe and I was also experimenting with printmaking in two artist residencies in Spain and Italy.
Celebrating Women’s Artistry: The Essence of FIEBER
From 2011 to 2017, I put a lot of energy and time as co-founder and general coordinator of the FIEBER Festival, a unique festival dedicated to women artists from Ibero-America, right in the heart of Berlin.
FIEBER was more than a festival; it was a beacon for over 200 women artists across disciplines like dance, music, visual arts, performance art, literature, theatre, among others.
Together, we created a nurturing environment that not only showcased their incredible talents but also fostered a sense of community. It was a tribute to their art, their voices, and their collective spirit.
Capturing Essence, Crafting Memories: A Portrait of Passion
Since 2019, I’ve been painting with light, professionally immersing myself in the world of portrait and event photography. With every click, I capture more than a moment—I capture a story, a memory, a moment.
Alongside this, I’m weaving a visual serie of inspiration through my women artists portrait project, spotlighting the diverse and dynamic women artists of Berlin and Costa Rica.
It’s a journey through faces and stories, each frame a celebration of women artists.
In addition to photography, I continue in parallel with painting, a continuous struggle that never ends.
Do you want to know more?
Read my text in the magazin Ístmica from the National University, Heredia, Costa Rica (in Spanish)—>
Testimonio: Maria Rapela, una artista costaricense en Berlín
If you want to see my CV, click here—>
Impressum
Maria Luisa Herrera Rapela
Reinickendorfer Str 114, SF, 13347 Berlin
UmStr: 1123/571/01207
StID: DE269409653
Phone:+49 (0)176 442 77015
