Mary Spain Art
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.
1960s Expressionist Mary Spain Art
Canvas, Oil
20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Graphite
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Oil
1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Color Pencil
1970s American Modern Mary Spain Art
Chalk
1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Oil
1980s Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Color Pencil
Mid-20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Color Pencil, Graphite
Early 2000s Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Paint, Paper, Parchment Paper, Charcoal, Crayon, Oil Crayon, Oil Pastel,...
2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Oil, Panel
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Canvas, Oil
2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Oil
2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Other Medium, Archival Paper, Handmade Paper, Pen, Felt Pen, Permanent M...
1930s American Modern Mary Spain Art
Ink
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Canvas, Oil
1950s American Modern Mary Spain Art
Paper, Watercolor, Pen, India Ink
1950s Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Oil, Panel
1970s American Modern Mary Spain Art
Pencil
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Mary Spain Art
Oil, Canvas
1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art
Ink
20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Ink, Color Pencil
20th Century Mary Spain Art
Graphite
1960s Mary Spain Art
Chalk, Graphite
1960s Mary Spain Art
Graphite
1970s Surrealist Mary Spain Art
Charcoal