Maria Bird is a Kentucky born sculpture and stained glass artist whose work deals with themes of mortality, memory, identity and beauty. Bird’s work is informed by observations of nature, often using imagery of flora and fauna as approachable visual representations when discussing uncomfortable topics.
“Death Becomes Us” explores topics surrounding death and the grieving process. Death Becomes Us isn’t a nihilist sentiment, but rather a call to action. Pushing through the haze that convinces us we’re going to be alive and healthy forever, lets us experience life more intentionally. To say “everyone will die sometime” can be startling, but it is a sentiment that needs to be acknowledged before each of us runs out of time. Understanding that our time is precious and that it will, not might, but will one day run out, forces us to think about how short, how delicate, and how beautiful our own lives are.