Born in Campanha, Brazil, Maria Martins developed her artistic practice while living abroad in various countries due to her husband's diplomatic career. She gained significant recognition in the 1940s while based in the United States, where she became associated with the Surrealist movement and exhibited at major institutions including the Julien Levy Gallery in New York.

Her signature work is characterized by fluid, organic bronze sculptures that frequently incorporate distorted anatomical features and references to Amazonian folklore. Her medium of choice allowed her to create complex, intertwined forms that challenged traditional sculptural boundaries and emphasized emotional intensity.

Martins remains a central figure in the study of Brazilian modernism. Her work continues to be featured in international institutional exhibitions, including recent inclusion in thematic surveys exploring the legacy of modernist art within global collections.