I whistled before I talked. I was born in Africa where there is no winter and people love to whistle. Africa where colors are magnificent, spices tickle the nostrils, birds always sing, and sugar has a central role in one’s life. I have fond memories of riding the train and being captivated by the sun caressing the sea and spreading a glittering gold cape over the waves. Surrounded by the constant beauty of colors and light, I was fascinated, and my observation skills were honed.
The independence changed the course of our lives. My parents and I had to move to France where we had to get acquainted to a new culture and to adapt to a different way of life that broadened my mind and developed my passion for traveling, languages, and unfamiliar cultures.
When I was twelve, I received a camera for Christmas which looked like a black soapbox, without lenses or flash. That was the beginning of a long love story and a series of experiments to capture the light and the bliss of the moment.
I moved to the United States in 1999, and I have been living in Washington, DC for close to 20 years. I started to show my photographs in 2015, and have been juried in exhibits in New York City, the Washington DC Metropolitan area, Grosse Pointe (Michigan), Tucson (Arizona). My photographs have been exhibited in Galleries (New-York, Washington DC, Mexico City) and other venues and published in newspaper in the United States.
I take my photographs with my emotions not with my brain. When I push the button is when my heart starts to pound and when I encounter a scene that ravishes my soul. I capture fleeting moments which a second later do not exist anymore; moments where the light, the colors and the creatures are in perfect harmony and become an exceptional whole.
Recognitions
June 2026 – The Long Night was juried into the BOAPS Summer 2026 Exhibition through an international call for entries.
https://www.biafarin.com/p/boaps2026summer.html?name=marie-b-cilia
September 2023 - Palermo, Sicily’s Reel (by Marie-B Photographs) on Instagram has been shared on Arte Fabuloso’s page.
November 2021, - DC Eyes featured Marie’s Photo Autumn in P St, Georgetown in their Instagram’s page.
September 2021 - Moments Exceptionnels reviewed by Mark Jenkins in the Fall Art Preview in the Washington Post.
September 2021 - Moments Exceptionnels reviewed by Gabe Castro Root in The Eagle American University Newspaper.
November 2020 - Mainstreet Georgetown has chosen one of Marie’ s photos for their November post https://www.instagram.com/p/CGP3OMqBv-2/
December 2019 – On the Bay has been selected by YourDailyPhotograph.com: http://eepurl.com/gNOpbr
December 2019 – The Georgetowner has featured one of Marie ’s Instagram photographs in its December’s edition.
December 2017 – Capitol Hill Art League – Artist of the Month
https://www.chaw.org/blog/mind-artist-part-xxii-marie-b
Exhibits and Commissions
February 2026 - Les cerisiers en fleurs - Signature Aviation, Dulles Airport (Commission)
July 2017 to November, 2025 - Members Exhibits at Washington Printmakers Gallery, DC
January 1, 2023 - to Present - Mini Solo Exhibit At Poupon - Washington, DC
October 19, 2023 to November 26, 2023 - Anthenaeum - Alexandria, VA - ‘Yerusalem’ has been juried in the exhibit ‘‘Fleeting Moments”
June 3, 2023 - June 30, 2023 - WPG Members’ Exhibit - Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
May 1, 2023 - June 10, 2023 - Mini Solo Exhibit - National League of American Pen Women - Washington, DC
March 30, 2023 - Apr 30, 2023 - WPG Members’ Exhibit - Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
March 1. 2023 - March 30. 2023 - Christ Church, Georgetown, DC
Feb 1- Feb 29, 2023 - Fredericksburg Center for the Art - Fredericksburg - VA
Aug 30, 2022 - Feb 28, 2023 - WPG Members’ Exhibit - Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
July 3, 2022 - Aug 28, 2022 - H2 Oh! Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
June 15, 2022 - June 22, 2022 Art in the Loop - London (UK) - Artwork on screens in London and virtual exhibit on Holy Art website
March - May 2022 - ‘‘Love’’ and ‘‘Meskerem’’ in the 2022 National League of American Pen Women Biennial Art Show at the Pen Arts Gallery in Washington, D.C.
April 1, 2022 - May 10, 2022 - Voyages - Frame of Mine - Washington, DC
January 10-March 27, 2022 - Hill Center Galleries 2022 Regional Juried Exhibition DC: Harar has been juried for the exibition.
January 3- February 27, 2022 - Harmony - 15 Interpretations’’ at Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
September 3 to September 26, 2021 - Moments Exceptionnels’’ - Solo Show at Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington - DC
June 5 - August 8, 2021 - ART IN THE TIME OF CORONA™ Vol.1 -GALLERY EXHIBITION | Mexico City, Mexico
March 2021 - June 2021 - In Spring Ahead - Online exhibit https://www.washingtonprintmakers.com/spring-ahead/march-2021
Avril 2021 - May 2021 - in Contexture - Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
March 2021 - May 2021 - in SHE/DC (online and at Dupont Circle) - Washington, DC
March 2021 - Avril 2021 - In Metamorphosis - Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
December 2020 - February 2021 - In Red - Washington Printmakers Gallery - Washington, DC
Nov 1, 2020 - Jan 1, 2021 - In Sea Change - Washington Printmakers Gallery 1641 Wisconsin Ave, Washington, DC 20007
July 7, 2020 - Dec 2020 - Members’ Show - Arts Club of Washington, Washington, DC
https://artsclubofwashington.org/arts-club-galleries
Aug 31, 2020 - Oct 2020 - In ReEntry - Washington Printmakers Gallery 1641 Wisconsin Ave, Washington, DC 20007
October 2020 - December 2020 - “Memories: People, Places, Structures” Juried National Solo Exhibit in the Frederick Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
Aug 31, 2020 - Oct 2020 - In ReEntry - Washington Printmakers Gallery, Washington, DC
Aug, 2020 - No More (Pulverized Hopes) in Dab Art Co.online exhibition.www.dabart.me and featured on Dab Art’s Artsy Page. Curator: Yessica Torres
July 20, 2020- Aug 20, 2020 - In Artomatic: A virtual Experience
April, 2020 - Biennial of National League of American Pen Woman – Washington, DC
February 2020 – March 2020 – Color is Key – Cape Cod Art Center, Online exhibit (Juried In)
April 7 – April 27, 2019 - Solo show Vagabondage - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Bethesda, MD
Feb 28, 2019 – March 26, 2019 Solo show Vagabondage Juried in Washington County Arts Council, Hagerstown, MD
Jan 4 – Jan 27, 2019 - Faces - Del Ray Artisan Gallery, Juried Exhibition, Alexandria, VA
Jan 2018 - The Arts Club of Washington, Washington, DC
Jan 2018 - Washington Printmakers Gallery, Washington, DC
Dec 2018 - Washington Printmakers Gallery, Washington, DC
Dec 2018 - Holiday Market, Del Ray Artisans Gallery, Alexandria, VA
Dec 2018 - The Arts Club of Washington, Washington, DC
Nov 2018 - The Arts Club of Washington, Washington, DC
Jun 27 – Sept 22, 2018 Hill Center Galleries Regional Juried Exhibition, Washington, DC
Avril 28-29, 2018 Christ Church Georgetown, DC
Avril 28-29, 2018 Art Hop, Takoma Park, MD (Juried in)
April 1- May 31, 2018 Remax Capitol Hill (Juried in)
March 7, 2018 Community Forklift Garden Party, Edmonston, MD
March 2- 25, 2018 17th Annual Box Show & Auction, Frederick, MD
January 27, 2018 – February 2, 2018 Dumbarton Concert Gallery, Washington, DC (Juried in)
January 13 – February 24, 2018 Artist’s Choice, CHAW for CHAL, Washington, DC
January 4 – February 2, 2018 Hill center, Washington, DC (Juried In)
December 2017 – Featured Artist in Capitol Hill Artist Work Shop’s Blog.
October – December 2017 Eno’s 2810 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC (Solo Exhibit)
October 3, 2017 – November 6, 2017 Gallery O on H, Washington, DC (Juried in)
September 2017 - Frame of Mine, Washington, DC
2015 -2016
National Geographic - Your Shot Member
Grosse Pointe Artists Association, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
Forklift – Edmonston, MD
Phoenix Gallery New York, NYhttp://www.phoenix-gallery.com/bauer-and-cartland.html
Art Hop, Takoma Park, MD
VA Center – Washington – DC
Velocity, Washington, DC
Artist’s Picks – Capitol Hill Art League – Washington, DC
Hill Center 2017 CHAL Exhibition – Washington, DC
Cheap Thrills, Anacostia Art Center, Washington DC
Diverse Expressions Exhibit – Yellow Barn Glen Echo MD
46th Annual Art Show Spanish Ballroom Glen Echo – MD
The Gallery at Dove Mountain Tucson Art Show, AZ
Tucson Museum of Art Artisan Market, AZ
Southern Arizona Art Guild – Gallery, Tucson, AZ
SAACA, La Encantada Art Show, Tucson, AZ
SAACA, Oro Valley Market Place Art Show, Oro Valley, AZ
LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY
President (2021-2025) Washington Printmakers Gallery (DC) & Current Board Member for Washington Print Makers Foundation
Founder of Art school (Washington Print Foundation) offering classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, dance, and creative arts; grants awarded to children from low-income families
Organizer — 2021 Outdoor Street Art Exhibition featuring 35 artists, Washington, DC (no submission fee)
Active member — Local neighborhood association, BID, CAG, and Mainstreet