A Washingtonian, Maria Lana Queen received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of the District of Columbia. She is a self-taught artist, who has been creating works of art since 2003. As a former fashion model, she never considered painting until a devastating personal loss started her artistic journey. Receiving art supplies as a gift from a dear friend, painting helped her deal with the loss of her brother in 2003 and gave her the inspiration to create a body of work that has become her voice in the world. She discovered that by using canvas, paper, found objects, and paint to create her own form of diary-keeping, she could express her feelings in her own coded language. She uses the power of color to express emotions. Her colorful abstract paintings serve as a personal visual diary of her life experiences. Her artworks have been shown in exhibits in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York, the U.S Virgin Islands, and Martha’s Vineyard. Permanent, prominent collections that include her artworks include the: American Embassy in Jamaica; David C. Driskell Center in College Park, MD; University of Maryland University College; and “Tradition Redefined: The Larry and Brenda Thompson Collection of African American Art" - Georgia Museum of Art. In 2012 she and her artworks were also featured in an exclusive Washington Post article titled, “Her Past Colors Her Art”. Through her art creations, Ms. Queen continues to paint her ongoing abstract diary.