Marina Montemor, known artistically as M. Luzia, brings a unique perspective to contemporary mixed media art, drawing from her extraordinary 25-year career as a professional stenographer. Her work serves as a powerful outlet for processing the complex information and experiences she encounters in her professional life, transforming the weight of confidential knowledge into expressive visual narratives.

As a stenographer, Marina has worked across diverse high-profile sectors, from live television captioning to parliamentary proceedings, capturing the words of heads of state, prime ministers, and industry leaders. Her professional journey has taken her through the corridors of power in energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, beauty and fashion conglomerates, C-suites, and banking institutions. This privileged access to sensitive political, social, and economic discourse profoundly influences her artistic expression.

Marina's personal journey as a first-generation American from Portuguese parents adds another layer of depth to her work. In 2016, she made the significant decision to re-immigrate to Portugal with her young son, navigating the complexities of cultural identity and belonging. As a single mother balancing a demanding career while raising two children, she has experienced firsthand the discriminations and challenges inherent in modern society.

Her artwork emerges from this intersection of professional responsibility and personal experience. Each piece serves as a visual diary, processing the constant flow of information she absorbs as a stenographer while exploring themes of identity, motherhood, migration, and resilience. Her mixed media compositions blend traditional techniques with contemporary sensibilities, creating layered narratives that speak to the complexity of modern life.

Through her art, Marina transforms the invisible labor of documentation into visible expressions of human experience. Her work invites viewers to consider the stories behind the official records, the personal cost of professional discretion, and the strength required to navigate multiple identities in an interconnected world. Each series—from Ethereal Landscapes to the documentary-inspired Digtal Debris—reflects different facets of her multifaceted existence.

Each piece in Marina's collection is deliberately handmade, purposefully embracing the beauty inherent in human imperfection. In a world increasingly dominated by digital precision and artificial intelligence, her work celebrates the irreplaceable value of the human touch. The slight variations in brushstrokes, the organic flow of mixed media elements, and the subtle asymmetries that emerge from hand-crafted creation are not flaws to be corrected, but essential qualities that make each artwork unique and authentically human. This commitment to handmade artistry reflects Marina's belief that true beauty lies not in perfection, but in the honest expression of human creativity and the gentle imperfections that make each piece a one-of-a-kind treasure.

As an Artist, her creations are deeply personal extensions of her inner world. For this reason, She has always held a strict personal rule: She does not part with her original artworks. They are unique, tangible pieces of her journey, and she has always chosens to share them with the world only through digital prints. However, originals and mock-ups are availale for viewing.