About
One person, four circles
Designer, artist and musician in Atlanta, Georgia.
Design, art, finds and music are four businesses with four websites. They come from one eye, and this is the place where that is visible.
Her story
Maria K. Cooper was born in Kentucky and spent her formative years in Belgium and across Europe, where her grandmother's art collection gave her a love of painting that has never left. Her family later relocated near Savannah, Georgia, and she graduated from Georgia Southern University.
In 2008 she moved to Miami, arriving in the middle of the financial crisis, and built a career in commercial design. She created commissioned works and marquee installations for some of the city's best known clubs, restaurants and resorts, and developed her fine art alongside. Eighteen years on, that practice spans hospitality, commercial and residential work across South Florida, the Caribbean and the East Coast, and includes fire and life safety consulting for 26 landmark properties.
She founded Maria Cooper Art in 2020, painting abstract and surreal work in acrylic, oil, mixed media and charcoal. Maria Cooper Finds followed: a curated shop of antiques, original art and objects, each chosen by hand. In 2025 she formalised Maria Cooper Design as a standalone, woman-owned studio in Atlanta.
Music is the newest circle. Maria has kept journals for years, and in 2026 she began turning them into songs. Working with AI models as her instruments, she directs the composition and writes the lyrics, building each song to hold a specific feeling from a specific time. Her first single, “Circle in the Sand”, was released in September 2026 as Maria Kay Cooper, with more to follow.
“Art is a foundational part of my being. For as long as I can remember, I must be painting, writing, drawing.”
- Early yearsBorn in Kentucky. Formative years in Belgium and across Europe, where her grandmother’s art collection shaped her eye.
- GeorgiaHer family relocates near Savannah. She graduates from Georgia Southern University.
- 2008Moves to Miami in the middle of the financial crisis and begins her commercial design career, creating installations for clubs, restaurants and resorts.
- 2016Establishes an independent design practice.
- 2020Founds Maria Cooper Art.
- 2025Formalises Maria Cooper Design as a standalone studio in Atlanta.
- 2026Set designer and property master on the short film Ripple. Releases her first single, “Circle in the Sand”, on 16 September as Maria Kay Cooper.
Press kit
For writers, venues and playlists
Short bio
Maria K. Cooper is a designer, artist and musician based in Atlanta, Georgia. She founded Maria Cooper Design, a boutique consulting studio for hospitality, commercial and residential projects; Maria Cooper Art, where she paints abstract and surreal work in acrylic, oil and mixed media; and Maria Cooper Finds, a curated shop of antiques and objects. In 2026 she released her first single, "Circle in the Sand", as Maria Kay Cooper.
Names
Maria K. Cooper for design, art and general use. Maria Kay Cooper for music. Maria Cooper Design, Maria Cooper Art and Maria Cooper Finds are the studios.
Location
Smyrna, Georgia, in metro Atlanta.
