María Alejandra Zanetta (b.1961)
Akron Cityscape, 2019
Commissioned by Summa Health
Materials: Linoleum cut print and mixed media on paper
Dimensions: 29" x 40”
Location at Summa Health:
Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower, Akron Campus
(141 N. Forge St.), Blue Neighborhood, Sixth Floor
Hallway outside patient rooms H6-101 and H6-102
About the Artwork
Akron Cityscape captures the essence of Akron’s skyline, weaving together iconic architectural landmarks such as the Quaker Towers, the Akron Art Museum, the YMCA, the Inventors' Hall of Fame, and E.J. Thomas Hall alongside the Cuyahoga River. Above it all floats the unmistakable Goodyear Blimp, ensuring the city’s identity is unmistakably clear. This mixed-media work by artist María Alejandra Zanetta offers a vibrant, abstract interpretation of the city she has long called home.
The piece began as a linoleum block print, with Zanetta carefully carving the image in reverse to produce the desired outcome. The artist then incorporated a collage element, gluing a strip of newspaper onto the lower portion of the paper. Rather than focusing on the content of the newspaper, she was drawn to its grey tones and typography, which subtly echoed the texture of the street alongside the river. After the collage element was applied, the artist printed the image using black ink onto the collaged surface.
Zanetta then applied multiple layers of color, printed with separate passes of the linoleum block using bright blues, greens, and vivid tones for the buildings, trees, and river before adding final touches with pastels and acrylics. This larger print was adapted specifically for Summa Health, expanding upon a smaller version of the work that was purchased by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 2018. The additional color, detail, and technical refinements in this piece make it a unique creation, reflecting the artist’s evolving vision.
Linoleum prints, by nature, favor bold imagery over fine detail. The dynamic movement in Akron Cityscape, from the undulating clouds to the angular forms of the buildings, conveys the energy and vibrancy of a city that is constantly in motion.
Interactions/Interacciones (lilac and silver), 2014
Materials: Linoleum cut monoprint on collage
Dimensions: 36” x 45”
Location at Summa Health:
Akron Campus, Main Building (141 N. Forge St.)
Purple Neighborhood, Ground Floor, Opposite "T" Elevators
This work was acquired for the Summa Health System – Akron Campus Wayfinding Project.
About the Artwork
Interactions/Interacciones (lilac and silver) is a highly abstract exploration of human connection. The artist uses vibrant forms and organic shapes to symbolize the positivity that comes from open, and sincere interactions between people. This work emphasizes the benefits of such exchanges, encouraging the viewer to reflect on the harmony of positive social relationships.
The piece features a dynamic interplay of small, solid shapes, irregular wheels with radial patterns, and larger stripy bands adorned with purple ribbons and small perforated squares. The artist invites the viewer to explore the interactions between these shapes as they overlap, merge, and create new forms, offering a meditative experience of visual connections.
A closer examination reveals Zanetta’s masterful technique. She begins with a planned composition that incorporates cut-outs from various colored papers, primarily in shades of lilac and silver. These collaged elements, including a silver paper with distinct rectangular "freckles," serve as the base for the print. Once the collaged foundation is complete, Zanetta carefully carves her design into a linoleum block using gouging tools, leaving areas of relief that will form the final print. The inked block is then pressed onto the collaged ground, where the raised surfaces create contrasting textures and lines, producing a layered, tactile effect.
To complete the piece, Zanetta enhances the surface with pastels, adding a flourish of rose-colored accents in the lower right corner. This process ensures that, although linoleum prints can be reproduced in multiples, each piece in the series remains unique through the artist’s hand-applied details.
Interactions/Interacciones (lilac and silver) is a stunning example of Zanetta’s ability to transform abstract forms into a meaningful exploration of human interaction, using both traditional printmaking techniques and contemporary collage. The work invites reflection on the ways in which we connect, communicate, and coexist.
Marshes, 2024
Materials: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 24” x 36”
Location at Summa Health
Summa Health Barberton Campus (155 5th St. NE), Ground Floor, Main Lobby
About the Artwork
Marshes is a deeply atmospheric landscape that captures the rich visual language of the marshlands of South Carolina, a region the artist has visited every summer and holds close to her heart. With expressive brushwork and carefully layered color, María Alejandra Zanetta evokes the tranquil beauty and quiet power of this unique ecosystem. The tall grasses, subtle reflections on the water, and delicate textures of plant life invite the viewer into a space of stillness and contemplation.
Like many of Zanetta’s landscapes, Marshes carries an emotional undercurrent. The artist describes landscape painting as one of the purest ways to convey feeling through art, and in this piece, that philosophy is evident in the work’s moody palette and introspective tone. It is not only a depiction of a place but also a reflection of the artist’s emotional experience of it.
Noon at the Marshes, 2024
Materials: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 24” x 24”
Location at Summa Health
Summa Health Barberton Campus (155 5th St. NE), Ground Floor, Main Lobby
About the Artwork
In Noon at the Marshes, María Alejandra Zanetta returns to the familiar landscape of the South Carolina marshes to explore their vibrant textures and shifting light. Painted on clay board, the work offers a refined surface that allows for intricate detailing and nuanced layering of acrylics. The midday sun, suggested through bright highlights and reflected light on the water, animates the tall grasses and accentuates the varied hues of greens, golds, and silvers that populate the scene.
Zanetta approaches landscape painting not only as a visual practice but also as an emotional one. This piece, like others in her marshland series, carries a moody yet peaceful sensibility, conveying the artist’s personal connection to the natural world. The marshes become a meditative space for both artist and viewer, offering a moment of escape and serenity within the hospital environment.
Winding Road, 2024
Materials: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 36” x 24”
Location at Summa Health
Summa Health Barberton Campus (155 5th St. NE), Ground Floor, Main Lobby
About the Artwork
Winding Road is a symbolic exploration of life’s journey, painted in rich, flowing lines and an earthy palette. With its sinuous paths and interconnected forms, the composition reflects the idea that life is a continuous process of movement, decision-making, and transformation. María Alejandra Zanetta uses the expressive qualities of acrylic on canvas to emphasize fluidity and motion, inviting viewers to contemplate their own paths and progress.
The artist notes that the curved lines that divide and connect each section of the work represent both the challenges and the beauty of navigating life. More than a literal landscape, Winding Road is a metaphorical one, grounded in the rhythms of nature and the interconnectedness of all living things. Through this piece, Zanetta underscores her belief in the emotional power of landscape painting to tell deeply human stories.
About the Artist
María Alejandra Zanetta is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Akron. She holds a B.A. in painting from the National School of Fine Arts, "Prilidiano Pueyrredon" in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has taught art at the collegiate level. She has built a robust career in both academia and the arts, with numerous solo and group exhibitions, print productions, and critical recognition.
Her work spans various styles and mediums, ranging from landscapes and cityscapes to figural studies and abstract compositions. Zanetta’s yearlong residency in Italy, where she lived in Tuscany and Rome, was an influential period in her career, allowing her to immerse herself in the study of landscapes and the human figure, both of which she captured in numerous paintings. Her time in Italy also inspired a deep engagement with life drawing classes. Recently, she has explored printmaking, which has allowed her to experiment with texture, color, and the variability inherent in printmaking processes.
Where You Can See More of María Alejandra Zanetta’s Work
Zanetta’s work is held in numerous collections across the U.S., South America, and Europe, including at Ohio State University, where she earned her Ph.D. in comparative literature, and the Ortega y Gasset Foundation in Toledo, Spain. Her art can also be found in the Student Union at the University of Akron and in various galleries in Akron, Cleveland, and Columbus.