About
Turning Trash Into Treasure
by Maria — The Eco-Artist of Geoje
From the shores of Cebu to the islands of Korea, Maria carries a lifelong mission:
to heal, to nurture,
and to spark hope — not just in people,
but in the planet we call home.
A nurse by training, an artist by calling,
and an environmentalist by heart,
she transforms discarded things into art that whispers:
“Nothing is ever truly wasted—if you choose to care.”
Through her workshops, exhibitions, and community projects, Maria inspires children, youth,
and dreamers of all ages
to see beauty where others see brokenness
and to protect the Earth with every small act of love.
Maria’s Eco Art Care — where creativity meets care for the planet.
Turning trash into treasures—and caring for the Earth, one creation at a time.
Maria’s Eco Art Care exists to awaken hearts to the beauty of our planet, to teach the next generation the value of sustainability, and to inspire everyone to discover the artist and eco-warrior within.
Through every piece of upcycled art, every workshop, and every story she shares, Maria continues her life’s work: turning trash into treasures—and caring for the Earth, one creation at a time.
About
Maria’s Eco Art Care
From the shores of Cebu to the heart of Korea, Maria’s journey is a living testament to how passion, creativity, and care can transform lives—and even the planet.
Born and raised in the vibrant island of Cebu, Maria set out into the world with a heart to serve. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Manila Central University in 1995, she became a Registered Nurse and soon embarked on what would become a 27-year life chapter in Korea. Now a naturalized Korean citizen, Maria’s story took an unexpected yet beautiful turn—from healthcare to healing the Earth through art.
From Healer to
Eco-Heartist
Maria found her soul’s calling where art and advocacy meet. As a Registered & Certified Eco-Artist by the Korea Artist Welfare Foundation Dream and a Certified Singer by the Korean Popular Music Association, she began using creativity to spark conversations about environmental care.
Since 2020, she has held over 20 solo exhibitions across cities like Geoje City, Jinju City, Gimhae City, Busan City, Ulsan City, and Namhae Island. Through her signature “Trash to Treasure” artworks—crafted from beach glass, pebbles, and found objects—Maria shows how discarded things can bloom again with beauty and purpose.
Her designs, from eco gems to beach glass cards and pebble art frames, are more than souvenirs; they are symbols of hope, resilience, and renewal.
Championing the Planet and the Youth
Maria is a passionate environmentalist and youth environmental mentor, and the creator of Maria’s English Eco-Art Workshop Program (since 2021). She has brought her eco-art workshops to international and Korean schools, local communities, private groups, and orphanages—encouraging children and youth to see themselves as protectors of the planet.
She also hosts “Eco-Talk w/ MARIA”, an interview series where children share their ideas on solving environmental problems, empowering them to be part of the change.
Building Community Through Creativity
Maria’s eco-mission extends beyond galleries. She is the proud owner of Maria’s Art Rock & Grill in Geoje—a cozy space where art meets community. Here, guests can Eat, Sip, Chat & Create, surrounded by Maria’s eco-art masterpieces. It’s a venue for cultural exchange, language learning, creative exploration, and environmental awareness—proving that art can nourish both the soul and the Earth.
As a community leader and long-time volunteer in the Filipino community (since 2007), and a dedicated beach clean-up volunteer on Geoje Island, Maria lives out what she teaches: that small acts of care ripple into waves of change.
Our Mission
Maria’s eco-art goal is to raise and instill awareness of pressing environmental issues among people around the world. She begins within her own communities, focusing especially on educating youth. While this may not create immediate, large-scale change, Maria believes it can significantly influence people’s thinking and actions, helping young people develop a sense of socio-environmental responsibility, creativity, resourcefulness, leadership, and advocacy to protect the environment for future generations.
Maria is deeply fascinated by how individuals express themselves and connect within today's modern societies and lifestyles. As an eco-artist, her work is a reflection of her personal, cultural, socio-political, and environmental experiences. She incorporates every discarded piece she finds—whether trash or unused material—into her artwork, transforming them into meaningful, sustainable pieces rather than letting them become pollutants.
Maria says, “The moment I see a piece of trash while walking on the street—whether it’s plastic or a metal object—my mind fills with creative ideas for using these discarded objects. This inspires me to hurry home and start mounting these finds on a canvas, eager to create another magical work of art.”
About Maria Elena Fham Famor
Maria Elena Famor, originally from Cebu, Philippines, has been living in Korea for 27 years and became a naturalized Korean citizen. She is a certified eco-artist, a passionate band singer, a teacher by vocation, and a registered nurse by education. Based on Geoje Island, Maria has worked gradually and passionately to bring environmental awareness to various cities across Korea, especially in Geoje. She organizes private eco-art workshops for local communities, local and international schools, and presents both group and solo exhibitions at community events and festivals. Maria has exhibited her artwork internationally and has conducted numerous eco-outreach activities both locally and abroad.
She works with various art mediums, including drawing, acrylic painting, mixed media, assemblage, collage, steampunk, and nature art. Maria uses eco-friendly and recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, Styrofoam, cardboard, electronic waste, tin, metal scraps, found objects from beaches and elsewhere, as well as natural materials like stones, leaves, flowers, and twigs as the main components of her eco-artworks.
Her eco-art documentary was featured in local and international media in 2021 and she has also been highlighted several times by local and international TV news broadcasters in 2022. Maria runs her own program, Maria’s Eco-Art, which provides eco-art workshops to schools, private institutes, groups, and individuals.
Maria’s ultimate mission is to promote environmental advocacy worldwide, raise public environmental awareness through her remarkable eco-artwork, and educate today’s children to cultivate a more environmentally conscious generation—nurturing responsible individuals and potential future leaders of society.
About the Artist
Geoje Island, South Korea
A native of Cebu, Philippines and has been working in Korea for 27 years Naturalized Korean citizen a Registered Nurse, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Nursing, Manila Central University in Philippines,1995 A Registered & Certified Eco-Artist by the Korea Artist Welfare Foundation Dream A Certified Singer by Korean Popular Music Association Environmentalist, Youth Environmental Mentor English Language, Eco-Art Teacher Ministerial Awardee by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, August 26th 2025
마리아 엘레나 파모르
거제도, 대한민국
필리핀 세부 출신으로 한국에서 27년 째 일하고 있는 사람 • 귀화 한국 시민 • 등록 간호사, 1995년 필리핀 마닐라 중앙대학교 간호학 학사 학위 취득 • 한국예술인복지재단 드림의 등록 및 인증 에코아티스트 • 한국대중음악협회의 공인가수 • 환경운동가, 청소년 환경 멘토 • 영어, 생태 미술 교사
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