About the Artist

Maria Alejandra Icaza is a Panamanian architect, designer, and artist based in Miami. Introduced to art and design by her sculptor mother, Icaza's multidisciplinary practice spans architecture, interior design, furniture, and product design, guided by the Vitruvian principles of durability, utility, and beauty.

Icaza holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Escuela de Arquitectura y Diseño de América Latina y el Caribe ISTHMUS in Panama and dual Master of Arts degrees in Furniture Design and Industrial Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (2019). She studied Interior Design at the Florence Design Academy in Italy and is a LEED Green Associate.

Her work reflects a deep appreciation for materials, manufacturing processes, and sustainable practices. She has interned with Panama's Oficina del Casco Antiguo and Dirección Nacional del Patrimonio Histórico, developing sensitivity for historical heritage and adaptive reuse. In 2016, she presented research on sustainable energy practices at the Foro Internacional y Expo Ciudades Sostenibles alongside the CEO of Panama Green Building Council. (maipdesigns.com)