Mary has been been making pictures since she was a child and got her hands on her Dad's Box Brownie camera. Born in Central Victoria, Mary travelled extensively in Australia and South East Asia before returning to live in Central Victoria. She began to take her passion for making images seriously in 1998 when she studied photojournalism. It was here that Mary realized the power of an image to tell a story. This inspired her to study painting & drawing, completing a BA in Visual Art.
Mary works with charcoal, ink, pencil, crayon and acrylic paint. These materials allow her the most direct and authentic response to what is present or emerging in her life. Many of the images arise/are formed in response to her life - to the people she meets; to the places she visits; to the stories she hears; to dreams & reveries; fairy tales and poetry.
Mary works intuitively, seeking to create images that evoke curiosity and wonder for the viewer. As she works she allows the images to take form and play together on the flat surface – creating a dynamic between the figure/s, colour/s, shapes and lines. She often creates several vignettes, which form cohesively to become one image. An image ‘works’ if there is a sense of harmony - balancing both tenderness and depth.
Mary's early childhood teaching career has instilled in her the importance of play and joy. She makes images that are playful and invite questions as a way to engage, enrich and bring joy to people through art. Her work has been described as ‘compelling’, ‘beautiful’, ‘fresh’ and ‘gorgeous’.
EDUCATION
BA Visual Arts, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
Photojournalism, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (selected)
Dudley House, Bendigo, Victoria
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selected)
Bendigo Art Show, Bendigo, Victoria
Castlemaine Art Show, Castlemaine, Victoria
50 Square, Brunswick St, Gallery, Melbourne
Small Art Show, Brunswick St Gallery, Brunswick, Melbourne
Dance inspired by my artwork “Still Standing” (exhibited in Ravenswood Art Prize)
performed by Ravenswood House Performing Arts Festival
Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize
Gertrude St Artist run space, Melbourne
Phyllis Palmer Gallery, Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo Pottery Gallery, Bendigo, Victoria
Robert Jacks Drawing prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, Victoria
Wearable Art show, Dudley House, Bendigo
Mary works with charcoal, ink, pencil, crayon and acrylic paint. These materials allow her the most direct and authentic response to what is present or emerging in her life. Many of the images arise/are formed in response to her life - to the people she meets; to the places she visits; to the stories she hears; to dreams & reveries; fairy tales and poetry.
Mary works intuitively, seeking to create images that evoke curiosity and wonder for the viewer. As she works she allows the images to take form and play together on the flat surface – creating a dynamic between the figure/s, colour/s, shapes and lines. She often creates several vignettes, which form cohesively to become one image. An image ‘works’ if there is a sense of harmony - balancing both tenderness and depth.
Mary's early childhood teaching career has instilled in her the importance of play and joy. She makes images that are playful and invite questions as a way to engage, enrich and bring joy to people through art. Her work has been described as ‘compelling’, ‘beautiful’, ‘fresh’ and ‘gorgeous’.
EDUCATION
BA Visual Arts, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
Photojournalism, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (selected)
Dudley House, Bendigo, Victoria
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (selected)
Bendigo Art Show, Bendigo, Victoria
Castlemaine Art Show, Castlemaine, Victoria
50 Square, Brunswick St, Gallery, Melbourne
Small Art Show, Brunswick St Gallery, Brunswick, Melbourne
Dance inspired by my artwork “Still Standing” (exhibited in Ravenswood Art Prize)
performed by Ravenswood House Performing Arts Festival
Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize
Gertrude St Artist run space, Melbourne
Phyllis Palmer Gallery, Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo Pottery Gallery, Bendigo, Victoria
Robert Jacks Drawing prize, Bendigo Art Gallery, Bendigo, Victoria
Wearable Art show, Dudley House, Bendigo