Finnish born artist from Helsingfors, Helsinki, who followed her fellow student friend Helene SCHJERFBECK to the St Ives Colony in 1887-1889. Previously they had both attended the Finska Konstreningen, and were amongst the first group of Finnish women painters to study in France.

She attended the Academie Julian in Paris and studied under Robert-Fleury. She and Helene had also painted in Pont Aven, France (1883-4). In St Ives Maria painted a study of youth and old age, Out in the World (1887). This was considered a major landmark in her career, presaging more symbolic work and regarded as her most important work. She is primarily known for portraiture, and Swanson [in] Gaze comments that 'Her portraits of the leading members of Finnish society, viewed as cultural documents of the 1890s and early 20th century, were often commissioned by academic institutions.'  Her name is sometimes mis-spelled Wilk. (Wiik, pronounced Veek).