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.
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...
Oil
$4,160Sale Price|51% Off
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...
Oil
$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...
Oil
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...
Oil
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 24 in D 0.13 in
Queen of Outer Space - Original Sci- Fi Surrealist Composition On Board
By Russell Tripp
Located in Soquel, CA
Queen of Outer Space - Original Sci- Fi Surrealist Composition On Board Dramatic sci-fi scene by Russell R. Tripp (American, 1942-2025). This sci-fi surrealist painting blends indus...
Oil, Board
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 36 in D 1 in
Red Garment 2 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women, Africa
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. About Artist Mes...
Canvas, Oil
$4,200
H 59.06 in W 35.44 in D 0.79 in
Fate Challenge I (lady climber wildcat brown earth tones yellow ochre mauve
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In "Fate challenge II“ a mountaineer is eagerly climbing a steep rock ledge because she has seen something from a distance that she could not explain and is planning to find out. Alt...
Canvas, Oil
Contact
By Airom
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Painting depicts contact, ambiguous as to whether it could be adverse contact or intimate contact between the focal characters.
India Ink, Oil
$8,900
H 59.06 in W 53.15 in D 0.99 in
Dreamer (monkey gorilla iceberg arctic surrealist oil painting light blue)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Superbe original painting on canvas depicting a gorilla in a contemplative state on top of an iceberg while a young woman next to him plays the guitar. keywords; guitar playing woma...
Canvas, Oil
$29,500
H 51 in W 43.3 in D 3 in
"The Kiss" 2023, dark figurative oil painting by Daniela Astone
By Daniela Astone
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Part of Daniela Astone's series of figures in different ethereal and surrealistic spaces. "The Kiss" brings to mind Gustav Klimt's famous 1908 painting of the same name but instead of an abstracted gold background, Astone creates a mysterious creature enveloping and suspending the figure in mid-air. The dark monster looks ominous until you notice the nude figure leaning into her partner, her hands lightly caressing or leaning on the the amorphous creature. Her body is relaxed and her eyes closed. As a classical artist who paints the nude figure everyday, Astone is masterful at depicting women at ease in their natural bodies rather than women self-conscious of their nudity—posing but fearful of exploitation at the same time—a theme in art history that continues today. Some of the sweeping strokes of black are inspired by Japanese paintings techniques, and on the lighter areas there are rain drop falling from a blue-grey cloud in the background. 52.8 x 44.9 inches framed Artist Bio Daniela Astone was born in Pisa, Italy, in 1980 and raised in Porto Santo Stefano...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$1,723
H 11.82 in W 8.27 in D 1.58 in
Empty chairs at empty tables - 21st Century contemporary realistic painting
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Wijnand Driessen (Dutch artist) Empty chairs at empty tables 30 x 21 cm (framed, included in price 38 x 29 cm) Oil paint on canvas Artist Wijnand Driessen lives and works in Eindhov...
Oil, Wood Panel
$4,000
H 11.82 in W 63 in D 0.99 in
Set of 4 paintings. Interiors of film sets from the series The Light.
Located in Miami Beach, FL
This series of pieces is the result of an investigation into the use of light as a tool for the representation of reality and image creation. Starting in the 40s, the work of the art...
Canvas, Oil
$750
H 12 in W 16 in D 0.5 in
"Honfleur Street" (2024) By Christopher Clark, Cityscape, Oil & Acrylic
By Christopher Clark
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Honfleur Street" is an original, handmade oil & acrylic painting that depicts an abstracted cityscape bustling with people and the sun brightly reflecting off of...
Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel
$3,616
H 34.65 in W 20.48 in
José Manuel Capuletti, Iris con rama de olivo
Located in Madrid, ES
JOSÉ MANUEL CAPULETTI Spanish, 1925 - 1976 IRIS CON RAMA DE OLIVO signed "Capuletti" (lower right) oil on canvas 34-5/8 x 20-1/2 inches (88 x 52 cm.) framed: 38 x 23-3/4 inches (96.5...
Canvas, Oil
Figures in the Mist
Located in Soquel, CA
Abstract figurative work by Bruce Killiam (American, 20th Century). Figures are emerging from the mist, creating an ethereal, moody composition made up of subtle tones of tan, grey, ...
Canvas, Oil
$7,500
H 22.5 in W 19.75 in
Above It All Two Young Men on Mountain Top - Martin Luther King Issue
By Stan Galli
Located in Miami, FL
Above it all, two vigorous young men stand on a mountain top. They are depicted in profile, looking out into a sublime, verdant vista of tree-lined mountains punctuated by a winding...
Oil, Illustration Board
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...
Canvas, Oil