Maria Bentley

Education

• BFA: Fine Arts- mixed media sculpture New York State College of Ceramics Alfred University School of Art & Design, May 2015
• MS Ed: College Student Development Alfred University, in progress

Biography

Maria T. Bentley is our Art Enrollment Specialist in Admissions. Born and raised in Seneca Falls, NY – in the middle of the Finger Lakes region. She is a mixed media sculptor who works with ceramics, metals, glass, and found earth materials. She enjoys working with and exploring concepts of Earthworks. If she is not in her studio creating with dirt she is usually outside playing in it.  She spends majority of her time outside hiking, fishing, kayaking, gardening and various outdoor activities.

Maria received her BFA from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in May of 2015. During her time at Alfred University Maria was a women’s Varsity athlete playing lacrosse her first two years. She was an intern at the Robert C. Turner Gallery, the all student run gallery on campus, and was appointed by her peers, Director of the Turner Gallery fall of her junior year. She also held an internship at the Cohen Gallery in her senior year and was Assistant Director at the Belfry Gallery in Hornell for majority of her time as a student. In addition she was active in many exhibitions on campus and in the community. Her time as a student also included becoming a member of ODK, an honors and leadership society. 

Maria became intrigued by admissions when she held a position as head art and campus ambassador in her senior year.

After completing her studies, Maria received a Gene and Pamela Bernstein Leadership Award, through the Judson Leadership Center. This award funded her summer 2015 residency with the Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron Association at SAW (Salem Art Works). The project was founded at Alfred University by Alumna Rosemarie Oakman. “Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron is a cross generational community arts project. Our focus is to use art to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and act compassionately to those touched by it.” Maria is an active member and advocate of the Alzheimer’s Glass and Iron project. In addition she has also assisted ceramic artists Kala Stein, Ashley Lyon, and Ian McMahon.

Maria now finds her home in admissions working with prospective art and design students and supervising the student ambassador program. In addition she is pursuing her M.S.Ed. in College Student Development and continues her artistic practice and engagement with the campus community.