María Gísladóttir was born in Ísafjörður in 1960 but moved to Reykjavík with her parents when she was 3. In her formative years she was quick to take up drawing probably because her mother was very artistic. Her favorite subject was the Icelandic horse.

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María studied art in Breiðholt High School followed by a diploma course  at Reykjavík Art School. She has lived in a number of countries including Israel, Syria, Croatia and Egypt and this has influenced her life philosophy as well as her art.

María works now at a rehabilitation centre in Reykjavík. There she has gained more experience in watercolours, oil painting, collage and pastel drawing amongst other many other media.