No Imitation®

Artist Biography:
From day one, Paris France born designer Maria Curcic was always
interested in the arts. Upon moving to Canada she pursued her
creative nature and majored in drawing at ACAD (Alberta College of
Art and Design) and then continued to Mount Royal College and
completed Interior design. Her pursuit of design led her to millinery
where she apprenticed in Paris. Her personal style and passions led
her to open her boutique “Le Chapeau Rouge” in 1994, creating hats
with her personal flare. Her hats exude feminine style, bold shapes
and timeless designs. She wears her own designs and will not show
something she would never wear.

She believes that designers should lead and push boundaries. All
works are handmade with attention to quality and her pristine catch
on detail. Maria believes that a hat is more than an accessory; it
is a form of expression and must be worn with sheer confidence.

She has had her art work and hats published in City Scope Magazine, Cameo, Avenue , and was on the cover various magazines. She was nominated for Calgary's Top 40 under 40. Recently interviewed by Toronto's Privilege magazine for her works and contributions . One of her recent projects is "guest columnist" for new home living magazine, which can be seen on this site in the design area. Recently featured in Western Living magazine for her chair design. She was also featured in a few US magazines.
For the last 9 years, Maria has produced events called FASHION, ART and MUSIC, featuring people she knows in the industry, raising awareness of arts and culture.

Her work is in the collection of the Alberta Foundation For the Arts. She has produced the music selection for a fashion show for the Banff Centre .
Clients are in the U.S. ( with a rep in LA) and Europe. For 9 years she has had hat and art shows which supported various organizations such as Canadian Breast Cancer , Kids Cancer Care, Calgary Opera, DDJ, Sage theatre, O.Y.R., Animal Rescue Foundation,Calgary Food bank and many others.
She is respected in the Arts community by sponsoring art events.

Maria is currently living In the Kootneys( British Columbia)

Academic Background:

1990 -Mount Royal College: Interior Design, (Calgary, AB)
1992 - millinery : apprentice from European milliner (Paris, France)
1994 -Alberta College of Art and Design: Architectural rendering , evening credit course, (Calgary, AB)
1988 -Alberta College of Art and Design: Drawing (Calgary, AB)

Professional Affiliations:
1999- present - Event production
2004 - Voice over for video game called CALENDRA
2003 - Fashion show production, Banff Center( Banff, Alberta)
1998 -present - Radio Radio: OWNER
1994 - Le Chapeau Rouge: event productions (ongoing),millinery design ,production and distribution.

Selected Bibliography (Writings about my works):
2008 - Avenue Magazine,Calgary AB, hat featured in fashion segment, hat also featured in back of magazine. November issue.
2008 - hat feature in Avenue magazine fashion spread
2008 -Kootney business magazine feature
2008 -Upscale living magaine, April
2008 -Upscale living magazine, Design feature,March.
2007 - Condo living magazine, art featured and quotes
2006 - Western Living Magazine ( new product-chair design)
2006 - Factio Magazine ( Chicago;feature industry story)
2006 - Where magazine, hat used for story
2006 - Privilege magazine (Toronto, Ont.) April
2006 - “ Red is Best “, The Calgary Herald,
2003 - “ Charity women “ cover, Avenue magazine, ( Calgary ,AB)
2004 - “ Top 40 under 40 “, Calgary Inc. magazine ( Calgary ,AB)
2002 - “ Top 10 Calgarians who give”,cover, Avenue Magazine ( Calgary ,AB)
2000 - “ Calgary by Design”, cover, Where Magazine, ( Calgary ,AB)
2000 - “ In Uniform”, Calgary Inc., ( Calgary ,AB)
1998 - “Kensington”, art for City Scope magazine, ( Calgary ,AB)

Published works:
2006 - “ Are we too much in a hurry for beauty”
New Home Living magazine, ( Calgary ,AB
2006 - “ Let there be light”, New Home Living magazine, ( Calgary ,AB)
2006 - “ Custom Furniture” , New Home Living magazine, ( Calgary ,AB)