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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.

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Artist: Mary Spain
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

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

untitled (Woman and Cat)
By Mary Spain
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Unsigned Graphite on paper
Category

20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Graphite

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

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

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 wooden frame made by the artist (a simple band of wood surrounding the canvas Condition: Very good, untouched since creation of the work Canvas size: 28 x 27 inches Provenance: joseph M. Erdelac, Cleveland 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

1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art

Materials

Oil

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

Quicksand (Small) #18
By Mary Spain
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Titled and described by the artist verso Colored pencil on raw sienna laid rag paper
Category

1980s Surrealist Mary Spain Art

Materials

Color Pencil

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Previously Available Items
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...
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1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Art

Materials

Ink

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

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

Old Shoe
H 9.25 in W 10.38 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

untitled (Winged Girl with Cardinal)
By Mary Spain
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Unsigned graphite on paper
Category

1960s Mary Spain Art

Materials

Graphite

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

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.

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