Maria D’Souza’s unique designer beaded skull art is in high demand. Celebrities, art galleries, and animal enthusiasts worldwide desire her one-of-a-kind creations.
I’ve known Maria since December of 2019 when we met at Moo Country in Leiper’s Fork, TN. In fact, the day Maria and I met is the day the concept for the Southern Americana podcast was born. I sat down with Maria in the studio at SOWAL House in Rosemary Beach, Florida in mid-December of 2021 to catch up about her move to Tennessee and what’s in store for her artwork in 2022 and record the first episode of Season 3.
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Some visual artists transfer their inspiration to canvas, sculptures, or even graphic designs. Maria D’Souza, already an award-winning artist, found her creative outlet using beads and design talent on animal skulls to produce captivating works of art coveted by celebrities and collectors worldwide.
How Maria’s International Background Inspires Her Beaded Skull Art
Maria created this beaded art design from a Ram skull. (MarizD’Souza/2021)
Maria was born in Portugal, and while following her dad’s job, she lived on five different continents, spending three years living in Bahrain. As her artistic work transitioned from canvas to wood, she encountered artists using skulls in their designs and became transfixed on the idea of using beads. She’s the first artist to take this particular medium into the fine art world.
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“I’m an animal lover, so it’s imperative that the skulls I acquire come from ethically sourced providers,” says Maria, taking a break from a recent project.
“Most of my domestic skills such as Texas Longhorns and Bison are acquired from small family farms and animal sanctuaries and have lived long lives. More exotic skulls are usually found in the wild and have died by natural causes or predators. All of my providers are registered and have purchased special ‘tags’ that allow them to remove animal remains.”
Acquiring skulls via this method is more challenging, yet the ones she selects for her clients are amazing. When Maria began creating her beaded skull art six years ago, her first hurdle was finding the right glue. After trying dozens of options, she found someone who took the time to develop the perfect glue combination for the bead to stick to the bone permanently.
Each beaded skull takes about 150 hours to complete, depending on the project’s size and scope. “Big game hunters like my work because they see I’m honoring God’s creation, and that’s important to me.”
Creating Beaded Skull Art For Other Creatives
Tracey Bregman, the Emmy-winning Young and The Restless actress, ordered a custom beaded skull from Maria after seeing her work in Moo Country’s Leiper’s Fork boutique.
Maria D’Souza poses with one of her beaded skull art designs.
“Maria is so talented, intuitive, and spiritual. I am so honored to have her extraordinary piece called ‘Nashville Soul,’ in my home,” says Tracey.
For custom pieces, Maria takes direction from her clients. She also consults with them about the room or location where the artwork will reside, color combinations, and other considerations. If Maria feels the client’s color scheme or design concept isn’t working, she’ll offer her insights.
“I want the client to receive the most amazing beaded skull art. If needed, I’ll suggest what I believe works best. So far, I haven’t had a single client that didn’t accept my recommendations.”
Her completed skulls were once living, breathing creatures. Maria wants those who acquire her work to appreciate the animal’s life and contribution to nature. If possible, she also wants them to know the animals’ history because some were pets or recognized by the natives for years.
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A portion of the proceeds for the skulls she purchases are used to feed and clothe tribes in Africa. “Everything cycles back, and I love seeing an animal’s life benefit others and being part of that process.”