Mary's profile
“Art is not just a reflection of history; it’s about reimagining it, blending emotion, history, and humanity to spark new conversations.”
Mary is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans photography, mixed media, and oil painting, reflecting decades of creative exploration. With a Bachelor of Science in Arts focusing on Photography and a Master’s in Leadership in Education, her journey began with an ambitious proposal for a memorial honoring women in the Vietnam War, featuring a floating pink marble grosgrain ribbon, symbolic of strength and grace, juxtaposed with the black granite wall designed by Maya Lin.
Her earlier works included surreal compositions and poignant sculptures crafted from cigarette butts, inspired by personal loss. These assemblages, encased in Plexiglas, explored themes of fragility, resilience, and remembrance. Later, she turned to playful dioramas made from twisty ties, bread clips and other recyclables. The faces, with their screaming holes, conveyed a mix of humor with dark emotional undertones.
In retirement, Mary embraced oil painting, initially focusing on landscapes and local scenes before finding inspiration in the expressive hunting hounds near her home. Her lively portrayals of the hounds—frolicking, leaping, and tumbling—convey their exuberant spirit and distinct characters.
In her recent works, these evocative hounds become central figures in reimagined classical art, blending whimsy with thought-provoking narratives. In one piece, she portrays a refugee family amid resilience and displacement, exploring themes of survival and dignity. Another, inspired by John Collier’s The Priestess of Delphi, transforms the mystical figure into a hound surrounded by surreal, smoky faces, blending humor with an air of mystery. In a playful nod to modern culture’s obsession with fitness and strength, she reinterprets Ramon Casas Carbo’s El Lyceum with hounds in elaborate garb watching a contemporary boxing match, juxtaposing the refined aristocratic setting with contemporary athleticism. The scene is dotted with protein drink and body supplements posters, offering a playful commentary on modern culture’s obsession with fitness and strength.
Through these works, Mary continues to explore her love of humor and classical art, often reinterpreting centuries-old imagery to reflect her unique perspective on both history and contemporary life. Her oil paintings invite viewers to engage with art that balances playfulness and depth, encouraging them to imagine new narratives within traditional, iconic settings.
