Mary Spain Art

American, 1934-1983

Mary Spain was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1934. She studied art at Syracuse University and moved to Ohio in the 1960s to teach art at Chagrin Falls High School. She was a frequent exhibitor in the May Show at the Cleveland Museum of Art during the 1970s and early 1980s, where she won several Juror’s mentions for her paintings. Characteristic of her work is a flattened frontal gaze or a total profile view of her figures that recall Renaissance portraiture. Additionally, most of her characters are seen wearing odd or unusual hats. Spain believed that these hats identify the figures much like they do for professions such as chefs, clergy or law enforcement. The hats also act to contain the characters. While her figures often appear cute or innocent, Spain felt they were filled with mischief. Without their hats, she imagined that they might just explode. Spain’s interest in antique dolls and toys lends insight into the construction of her figures. Many figures have marionette-like qualities with blocky, out of proportion limbs, suggesting that perhaps they are not entirely in control of their actions. During her struggle with cancer, Spain used these figures to express her feelings of pain and sadness. While her deeply personal vocabulary and symbolism might be lost to the viewer, the narratives and embedded emotional substance remain.

Artist: Mary Spain

Mary SpainThe Happy Couple, Mid Century Surrealist Fantasy Landscape by Ohio artist

$3,120Sale Price|20% Off

The Happy Couple, Mid Century Surrealist Fantasy Landscape by Ohio artist

By Mary Spain

Located in Beachwood, OH

Mary Spain (American, 1934-1983) The Happy Couple Oil on canvas Signed middle right, signed and titled verso 22 x 26 inches Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spain’s work exhibits oddly distorted figures in a child-like manner with an underlying sense of absurdity. Through her toylike and primitive style, Spain created surrealistic dramas that puzzle and entrance the viewer. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mary Spain studied art at Syracuse University and moved to Ohio in the 1960s to teach art at Chagrin Falls...

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Mary SpainJanet and Bill, Surrealist Painting of Woman and Cat w/ Party Hats, c. 1970s

$5,200

Janet and Bill, Surrealist Painting of Woman and Cat w/ Party Hats

By Mary Spain

Located in Beachwood, OH

Mary Spain (American, 1934–1983) Janet and Bill, 1970s Oil on canvas Signed middle right, titled verso 26 x 30 inches 32.5 x 36.5 inches, framed Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spai...

Category

1970s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Mary SpainSphinx and Moon (Self Portrait) 1980s Pastel, Cleveland School Artist, c. 1980

$880Sale Price|20% Off

Sphinx and Moon (Self Portrait) 1980s Pastel, Cleveland School Artist

By Mary Spain

Located in Beachwood, OH

Mary Spain (American, 1934-1983) Sphinx and Moon (Self Portrait), c. 1980 Pastel on paper 9 x 16.5 inches 17. 5 x 25 inches, framed Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spain’s work ex...

Category

1980s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Pastel

Mary SpainMan with Feather in His Cap 20thc Figural Abstract Cleveland School Woman Artist

$1,200Sale Price|20% Off

Man with Feather in His Cap 20thc Figural Abstract Cleveland School Woman Artist

By Mary Spain

Located in Beachwood, OH

Mary Spain (American, 1934-1983) Man with Feather in His Cap Mixed media Signed lower right, signed and titled verso 11.5 x 7.75 inches 19.25 x 15.25 inches, framed Set in a realm o...

Category

Late 20th Century Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Mary SpainSurrealist Flying Fantasy Figure, Cleveland Woman Artist, 1970s

$5,500

Surrealist Flying Fantasy Figure, Cleveland Woman Artist

By Mary Spain

Located in Beachwood, OH

Mary Spain (American, 1934–1983) Flying Figure, 1970s Oil on canvas Signed lower right 17.5. x 21.5. inches 22 x 26 inches, framed Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spain’s work exhib...

Category

1970s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Mary Spainuntitled (Woman and Cat)

$225

untitled (Woman and Cat)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Unsigned Graphite on paper

Category

20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Graphite

Mary SpainWoman with Bouquet (Lady Liberty by Moonlight), 1974

$3,500

Woman with Bouquet (Lady Liberty by Moonlight)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Woman with Bouquet (Lady Liberty by Moonlight) Oil on canvas, 1974 Signed and dated by the artist lower center (see photo) Titled in pencil on stretcher, verso Housed in the original...

Category

1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Mary SpainVI Rose Nose Cat, 1977

$950

VI Rose Nose Cat

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

VI Rose Nose Cat Colored chalks on black paper, 1977 Signed and dated lower right (see photo) Titled lower left (see photo) Part of a series entit...

Category

1970s American Modern Mary Spain Art

Materials

Chalk

Mary SpainFlower Studies, 1970's

$200

Flower Studies

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Unsigned Graphite and colored pencils on laid paper

Category

Mid-20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Color Pencil, Graphite

Mary SpainQuicksand (Small) #18

$1,400

Quicksand (Small) #18

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Quicksand (Small) #18 Colored pencil on raw sienna laid rag paper, 1980 Signed and dated by the artist on the image upper right (see photo) Titled and described by the artist verso C...

Category

1980s American Modern Mary Spain Art

Materials

Color Pencil

Mary SpainTwo Boys (one standing, the other seated and drawing), 1975

$800

Two Boys (one standing, the other seated and drawing)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Two Boys (one standing, the other seated and drawing) Graphite and colored pencils on wove paper, 1975 Signed and dated lower left center (see photo) Condition: Excellent Slight waviness visible only on reverse Image size: 11 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches Sheet size: 14 x 17 3/4 inches Provenance: Estate of the Artist By descent Mary Spain (Colie) (1934-1983) Mary Spain was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. She taught art in Chagrin Falls...

Category

1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art

Materials

Color Pencil

Kyrylo Bondarenko"Salvador Dalí", 2011

$4,500

H 41.34 in W 33.86 in D 0.99 in

"Salvador Dalí"

By Kyrylo Bondarenko

Located in Edinburgh, GB

I was inspired to paint this picture by girls. on a nudist beach, they froze on the mat. Like a city in the steppe. As a result, I met them, they became my muses, I repeatedly painte...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Gianni BenvenutiEskimo Fairy Tales Watercolor on Cardboard, Surrealist, 1960s, 1966

$7,500

H 14.5 in W 8.5 in

Eskimo Fairy Tales Watercolor on Cardboard, Surrealist, 1960s

By Gianni Benvenuti

Located in Miami, FL

A young Eskimo child is depicted at the precise moment before he/she launches an arrow to the sun. According to Eskimo lore, the concept has deep symbolic meaning. To the viewer, t...

Category

1960s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Tempera, Watercolor, Cardboard, Pencil

Ángel CeladaContemporary Abstract Floral Painting White Field Mixed Media on Framed Panel, 2025

$1,347Sale Price|20% Off

H 21.66 in W 18.12 in D 1.34 in

Contemporary Abstract Floral Painting White Field Mixed Media on Framed Panel

By Ángel Celada

Located in FISTERRA, ES

Contemporary abstract floral painting with gestural color marks and open white field composition on panel. This work by Ángel Celada develops a lighter and more spacious approach to abstraction through dispersed gestures, floating organic forms...

Category

2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Art

Materials

Epoxy Resin, Oil, Acrylic, Board

Anastasia AureumCoincidence, 2025

$20,888

H 39.38 in W 98.43 in D 0.79 in

Coincidence

By Anastasia Aureum

Located in London, London

The item is located in central London,UK WILL BE SHIPPED ROLLED. one-of-a-kind original oil paintings on canvas hand signed

Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Keith ThomsonThe Cliche, Oil Painting, 2026

$2,600

H 16 in W 24 in D 1.5 in

The Cliche, Oil Painting

By Keith Thomson

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson commissioned a formal family portrait, insisting their beloved pet elephant, Elbert, be included. Elbert is family, after all. When the co...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Antonio MonasterioAntonio Monasterio – Woman with a Large Hat and Table with Vase. Nr.2, 1980

$80Sale Price|20% Off

H 22.05 in W 17.33 in

Antonio Monasterio – Woman with a Large Hat and Table with Vase. Nr.2

Located in Firenze, IT

Antonio Monasterio – Woman with a Large Hat and Table with Vase. Nr.2 • Technique: Mixed media on paper (pastels, wax, and red pen) • Dimensions: 56 x 44 cm • Signature: Lower ri...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Paper, Crayon, Wax Crayon, Wax, Pen

Louis Marchand des RauxFrench Surrealist pastel drawing 'In front of the church' by Marchand des Raux

$1,282

H 25.25 in W 18.5 in D 1 in

French Surrealist pastel drawing 'In front of the church' by Marchand des Raux

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

A striking Surrealist work by the French 20th Century artist Louis Marchand des Raux. Louis Marchand des Raux was a self-taught amateur painter who caught the eye of the famous deal...

Category

20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Paper, Pastel

Manolo Ballesteros NobellTitulado "La nit" - Óleo sobre lienzo - Sin enmarcar - Año 1991, 1991

$3,249

H 31.5 in W 44.49 in D 1.58 in

Titulado "La nit" - Óleo sobre lienzo - Sin enmarcar - Año 1991

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

Como pueden ver en las fotografías, la obra va firmada por el autor en la parte superior y fechada del año 1991 En la parte trasera, va nuevamente firmado, fechado y titulado "La ni...

Category

1990s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

Lisa Kowalski#100-15, 2015

$3,400

H 24 in W 70 in

#100-15

By Lisa Kowalski

Located in Los Angeles, CA

According to the artist, "everything in life inspires me, not quite with direct interpretation, but as I see and experience faces, words, gestures, colors and shapes – all of it – I ...

Category

2010s Abstract Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Pamela DerryGolden Brown, Tranquil Marsh River Landscape, Oil on Board, British, 1985, 1985 (Circa)

$1,348

H 13 in W 18 in D 2 in

Golden Brown, Tranquil Marsh River Landscape, Oil on Board, British, 1985

By Pamela Derry

Located in Preston, GB

Tranquil Marsh River Landscape, Oil on Board, by 20th Century British Artist Pamela Derry (1932–2002) Art measures 13 x 7.5 inches Frame measures 18 x 13 inches A beautifully atm...

Category

20th Century English School Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil, Board, Paint

Marina SkvortsovaForest mermaid, mysterious portrait of mermaid in an oval, 2025

$638

H 8.27 in W 11.42 in D 0.04 in

Forest mermaid, mysterious portrait of mermaid in an oval

By Marina Skvortsova

Located in Oslo, NO

In this work, created using a mixed technique of acrylic and watercolor pencils, a mysterious forest mermaid is depicted. Her expressive face, surrounded by soft, flowing lines, sea...

Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Paper, Acrylic, Pencil

Albert DeboisUntitled - Surrealist Scene - Drawing by Albert Debois - 1973, 1973

$566

H 20.08 in W 14.18 in D 0.04 in

Untitled - Surrealist Scene - Drawing by Albert Debois - 1973

Located in Roma, IT

Untitled - Surrealist Scene is an original contemporary artwork realized by Albert Debois in 1973. Mixed colored pastel on paper. Hand signed and dated on the lower right margin. ...

Category

1970s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Previously Available Items

Mary SpainPink Lady, c. mid 1970's

Sold

H 21.75 in W 20.25 in

Pink Lady

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Pink Lady Oil on canvas, c. 1968 Signed upper right (see photo). Housed in the original frame made by the artist Titled on the reverse on the stretcher bar Inspired by DeKooning Prov...

Category

1960s Expressionist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mary SpainProfile of a Young Woman Looking Right

Sold

H 12.75 in W 9.75 in

Profile of a Young Woman Looking Right

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Profile of a Young Woman Looking Right Ink and colored pencil on gray Canson Ingres paper Unsigned Sheet size: 112 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches Condition: Excellent Mary Spain (Colie) (1934-1983) Mary Spain was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. She taught art in Chagrin Falls...

Category

1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art

Materials

Ink

Mary SpainYoung Woman Facing Forward, c. 1970

Sold

H 8.25 in W 10.25 in

Young Woman Facing Forward

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Unsigned from the noted collection of Joseph M. Erdelac, Cleveland.

Category

20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Ink, Color Pencil

Mary SpainOld Shoe

Sold

H 9.25 in W 10.38 in

Old Shoe

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Signed and titled in pencil by the artist; Watermark: Strathmore Charcoal

Category

20th Century Mary Spain Art

Materials

Graphite

Mary SpainUntitled (Sheep on Wheels with Shadow-Shepherdess), c. 1970

Sold

H 7.13 in W 14.88 in

Untitled (Sheep on Wheels with Shadow-Shepherdess)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Graphite and colored chalk on brown Ingres Fabriano paper

Category

1960s Mary Spain Art

Materials

Chalk, Graphite

Mary Spainuntitled (Winged Girl with Cardinal)

Sold

H 22 in W 14 in

untitled (Winged Girl with Cardinal)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Unsigned graphite on paper

Category

1960s Mary Spain Art

Materials

Graphite

Mary Spainuntitled (Female Dancer), 1974

Sold

H 16.75 in W 11.88 in

untitled (Female Dancer)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Signed and dated by the artist in pencil lower right

Category

1970s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Charcoal

Mary SpainSinking Moon being Kissed at the Window while Smelling a Geranium. (And the night is very Black.)

Sold

H 12.5 in W 19 in

Sinking Moon being Kissed at the Window while Smelling a Geranium. (And the night is very Black.)

By Mary Spain

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Signed and titled in pencil by the artist

Category

20th Century Mary Spain Art

Mary Spain art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Mary Spain art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Mary Spain in pencil, color pencil, oil paint and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Mary Spain art, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Gary Hansmann, Clayton Anderson, and Charles Harris AKA Beni Kosh. Mary Spain art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $200 and tops out at $4,500, while the average work can sell for $875.