Skip to main content

Mary Spain Paintings

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.

to
1
2
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
4
3
3
1
2
2
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
4
4
11
785
698
654
649
4
4
Artist: Mary Spain
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 Paintings

Materials

Oil

Still Life of Man Holding Bird, Surreal Cleveland Woman Artist
By Mary Spain
Located in Beachwood, OH
Mary Spain (American, 1934–1983) Man with Bird Oil on canvas Signed middle right 13.5 x 11.75 inches 17 x 15 inches, framed Set in a realm of fantasy, Mary Spain’s work exhibits odd...
Category

1970s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

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 Paintings

Materials

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...
Category

1970s Contemporary Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil

Related Items
Surreal Full Moon Hawaii Cliff House Nocturnal Hawaiian 1940s Landscape
By Marguerite Blasingame
Located in Soquel, CA
Surreal Full Moon Hawaii Cliff House Nocturnal Hawaiian 1940s Landscape Symbolic and surreal mid century nocturnal landscape of a lone house on a s...
Category

1940s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil, Stretcher Bars

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...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Soulmates (brown pet dog, lady, vintage, animal, surrealist oil painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Soulmates," a poignant work by Rudolf Kosow, tenderly illustrates the profound bond shared between a dog and a human. In this intimate portrayal, the dog's gaze is imbued with an emotional depth that transcends the boundaries between species. Its eyes, rendered with striking clarity, convey a world of understanding and companionship. The lady, is nestled against the dog's face in a pose that suggests a mutual trust and shared existence. This closeness speaks to a relationship that goes beyond the conventional pet-owner dynamic, hinting at a deeper, spiritual connection—a true meeting of souls. In Kosow's vision, the concept of soulmates expands, encompassing the idea that our most understanding and compassionate partners may not be human at all. The painting's title, "Soulmates," encapsulates the notion that kindred spirits are connected not by words, but by the heart and soul, through gestures of love and moments of silent understanding. With "Soulmates," Kosow invites us to contemplate the essence of connection and the forms it can take. It's a celebration of the unspoken bond that animals and humans can share, an acknowledgment that the purest forms of love and understanding sometimes require no language. This piece serves as a beautiful reminder of the loyalty, comfort, and unconditional acceptance that define the most precious of life's relationships. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Thoughtful - XXI Century, Contemporary Figurative Painting, Surrealism, Nocturn
By Mariusz Zdybal
Located in Warsaw, PL
Mariusz Zdybal (born in 1955) He was awarded with "Golden Palm" at the international painting competition in Cannes and his works has been shown in Cannes, Warsaw, Gdansk and Berli...
Category

Early 2000s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Game (bob cat, female tennis player, ball, vintage, animal, surrealist painting
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
In this captivating painting by Rudolf Kosow, the canvas comes alive with a surreal and dynamic encounter. At first glance, we see a massive bob cat head, rendered in repose with a t...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Tramp (pet dog, beagle, troubadour guitare, animal portrait, surrealist painting
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
"Tramp," by Rudolf Kosow, is a whimsical painting that delights in its surreal juxtaposition of scale and serenity. At the center is a beagle's face, depicted with lifelike detail and expressiveness, eyes glistening with a calm intelligence that beckons the viewer into a state of contemplation. Positioned against the backdrop of the dog's vast visage, a small, solitary figure strums a guitar. The musician, dressed in casual attire, appears as a wandering troubadour, his music resonating with the quietude of the scene. This miniature man, though diminutive in size, plays a significant role in the narrative, providing a sense of companionship and shared experience. The painting's title, "Tramp," suggests a free spirit, both in the itinerant musician and the beagle, known for its adventurous and exploratory nature. Kosow's piece is an ode to the wandering souls and the moments of unexpected harmony they encounter. Through "Tramp," we are reminded of the melodies that score our journeys and the silent kinship we find along the way. It is an invitation to embrace the music of life, to find connection in the tranquility of existence, and to acknowledge the symphonies that unfold in the presence of kindred spirits, regardless of their size or form. keywords; painting on canvas, surrealist painting, animal vs human, americana, nature, man, man vs nature, surrealism, giant animal...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"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...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Lazybone (st-bernard, dog pet, baseball, vintage, animal, surrealist painting)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Rudolf Kosow delivers a surreal masterpiece that encapsulates his fascination with the interplay of scale and the deep connection between humans and animals. In this painting, a Sain...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Accept", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Tiffany Dae's (US based) "Accept" is a original, handmade oil painting that depicts a brown wooden chair surrounded by space like darkness. Artist Biogra...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

'Surreal Cityscape', National Academy of Design, San Francisco Museum of Art
By Daniel Albert Harris
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'ZEV' for Daniel Albert Harris (American, 1914-1986) and dated "1952-1953". A dramatic, Mid-century cityscape showing numerous figures, both concealed and partially-revealed, dispersed in a neo-classical townscape beneath a vibrant sunset. Born Daniel Harris, and adopting the name of Zev, Harris studied at the Masters Institute of the Roerich Museum in Hungary and at the National Academy of Design...
Category

1950s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Bunny And His Flower - Colorful Original Figurative Art on Canvas
By Carlos Gamez de Francisco
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Carlos Gamez de Francisco’s original artwork "The Bunny and His Flower" is a fusion of original hyperrealism, figurative surrealism, and narrative-driven art. This 12-inch round acry...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Gloomy (pet english bulldog dog surrealism animal men neutral tones)
By Rudolf Kosow
Located in Quebec, Quebec
Please note, the whites areas in the painting are trully white as opposed to bluey as shown in the pictures. Painting is signed at the front. COA provided keywords; surrealism, humo...
Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Previously Available Items
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 Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mary Spain paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Mary Spain paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Mary Spain in oil paint, paint, canvas 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 21 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jonah Kinigstein, Sarah Olson, and Frederick B. Serger. Mary Spain paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,500 and tops out at $4,500, while the average work can sell for $3,900.

Recently Viewed

View All