Maria Tonelli Smith is a visual artist and recent graduate of the Master of Arts program at the University of Florida's Center for Arts in Medicine. With a passion for integrating art and health, she draws inspiration from her experience as a former Sing for Hope Piano artist, where she painted a piano in 2019. This transformative project sparked her exploration of how visual art can promote health and enhance the wellbeing of individuals in both medical and community settings. Committed to fostering creativity and connection, Maria aims to use her artistic practice to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
As an art director with over 15 years of experience at Panache Designs, she specialized in designing and producing large-scale holiday decor programs for shopping centers across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Beyond her work at Panache, Maria has contributed to several notable projects, including public murals for the Georgia Institute of Technology, the W Hotel in midtown Atlanta, All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL, the "Dolphins on Parade" initiative at the Georgia Aquarium and the "Chairish the Future" event for the Atlanta Furniture Bank.
She has illustrated a few children's book, including Princess Bubble, A Cup of Tea for Tiger and Me, and Bob and Imaginary Fred. Maria is also currently writing and illustrating a few of her own.