Maria Santos never intended to become an artist. With a PhD in Quantum Physics
from São Paulo University, she was destined for academic research.
But her sculptures tell a different story.

“I was trying to explain particle behavior to my students using 3D models,”
Maria explains in her sun-filled São Paulo studio. “Suddenly I realized
I wasn’t just making educational tools – I was making art.”

Her breakthrough piece, “Entanglement,” features two sculptures that respond
to each other across gallery spaces, mimicking quantum entanglement behavior.
When visitors interact with one, the other reacts instantly,
creating an almost magical experience.

What sets Maria apart is her ability to make complex physics concepts
emotionally accessible. Her installation “Schrödinger’s Garden” allows visitors
to experience quantum superposition – the idea that particles exist in multiple
states simultaneously – through interactive light and sound.

Recently exhibited at the Venice Biennale, her work bridges the gap between
science and art, making both more approachable. “Art and physics both seek
to understand the fundamental nature of reality,” she says.
“I’m just using different tools to explore the same questions.”

Next month, Maria opens her solo exhibition “Quantum Poetics” at MOMA,
cementing her position as one of the most innovative artists of her generation.