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.

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 Paintings

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 Paintings

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil

Pigging Out at the Diner, Surreal Anthropomorphic Pig Satirical Illustration, circa 2000

$850

H 28.5 in W 20 in D 2 in

Pigging Out at the Diner, Surreal Anthropomorphic Pig Satirical Illustration

Located in Soquel, CA

A satirical, surreal depiction of a pig at a lunch counter by an unknown artist (20th Century). This scene, full of symbols and satire, portrays the anth...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Illustration Board

American Modernist Surreal Beach Scene Framed Figural Original Oil Painting, 1930

$1,295

H 25 in W 21 in D 2 in

American Modernist Surreal Beach Scene Framed Figural Original Oil Painting

Located in Buffalo, NY

Vintage American modernist beach scene oil painting . Oil on board. Signed. Framed. Measuring: 21 by 25 inches overall, and 18 by 22 painting alone. Excellent condition, ready to h...

Category

1930s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil

Robert GoldstromAnatomy Lesson, Segment 10 (Small Figure Painting of Two Muscular Nude Males), 2024

$1,700

H 12 in W 12 in D 1.5 in

Anatomy Lesson, Segment 10 (Small Figure Painting of Two Muscular Nude Males)

By Robert Goldstrom

Located in Hudson, NY

Anatomy Lesson, Segment 10 (modern figurative oil painting of two nude men from upper thigh to chest) by Robert Goldstrom 2024 oil on linen 12 x 12 inches signed and in excellent con...

Category

2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Julia San Roman"Dile Que No", Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, Unframed, 2010+, 2017

$7,200

H 60 in W 36 in D 1.5 in

"Dile Que No", Surrealist Oil Painting on Canvas, Unframed, 2010+

By Julia San Roman

Located in San Diego, CA

This is a one of a kind original oil and resin painting by San Diego artist, Julia San Roman. Its dimensions are 36" x 60" It is unframed. A certificate of authenticity will follow d...

Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Robert GoldstromAnatomy Lesson, Segment 13 (Square Figure Painting of Nude Men, Waist to Knees), 2024

$1,700

H 12 in W 12 in D 1.5 in

Anatomy Lesson, Segment 13 (Square Figure Painting of Nude Men, Waist to Knees)

By Robert Goldstrom

Located in Hudson, NY

Anatomy Lesson, Segment 13 (modern figurative oil painting of two nude men from waist to knees) by Robert Goldstrom 2024 oil on linen 12 x 12 inches signed and in excellent condition...

Category

2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Eric CederbergBeach with pearls, Eric Cederberg, Oil on panel, Scandinavia Surrealism, 1950 c., 1950 c.

$4,500

H 9.06 in W 14.57 in

Beach with pearls, Eric Cederberg, Oil on panel, Scandinavia Surrealism, 1950 c.

By Eric Cederberg

Located in New York, NY

Eric Cederberg (1897-1984) Beach with pearls, ca. 1950 Oil on panel 9 1/10 × 14 3/5 in l 23 × 37 cm Frame included: 13 3/4 x 19 1/3 l 35 x 49 cm Signed lower left Exhibition history...

Category

1950s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Christopher Clark"Honfleur Street" (2024) By Christopher Clark, Cityscape, Oil & Acrylic, 2024

$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...

Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Robert Kenneth WhiteRobert White "The Articulated Form" 2017 Oil, Symbolist Study of AI & Identity, 2017

$2,400Sale Price|50% Off

H 35.875 in W 29.5 in D 1.625 in

Robert White "The Articulated Form" 2017 Oil, Symbolist Study of AI & Identity

By Robert Kenneth White

Located in Miami, FL

ROBERT KENNETH WHITE – "THE ARTICULATED FORM" ⚜ Oil on canvas ⚜ Hand signed on verso ⚜ Frameless display MECHANICS OF HUMANITY In “The Articulated Form,” Robert Kenneth White presen...

Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Eric VanasseDigital World, Oil Painting, 2018

$2,025

H 22 in W 28 in D 0.75 in

Digital World, Oil Painting

By Eric Vanasse

Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A young boy stands indoors, absorbed in his mobile device. Just beyond an open door, a polar bear looms inside the house, its mouth open as if roaring. The brig...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sara Scribner"Into the Night, " Oil Painting, 2021

$3,780

H 24 in W 10 in

"Into the Night, " Oil Painting

By Sara Scribner

Located in Denver, CO

Sara Scribner's (US based) "Into the Night" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a woman in a long pink dress walking towards a background ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Robert GoldstromAnatomy Lesson, Segment 3 (Side Profile of Male Bust Gazing at Suspended Hand), 2024

$1,700

H 12 in W 12 in D 1.5 in

Anatomy Lesson, Segment 3 (Side Profile of Male Bust Gazing at Suspended Hand)

By Robert Goldstrom

Located in Hudson, NY

Anatomy Lesson, Segment 3 (modern figurative oil painting of male bust in profile with hand) by Robert Goldstrom 2024 oil on linen 12 x 12 inches signed and in excellent condition T...

Category

2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

David KonigsbergBouquet (Figurative Still Life Painting of Pastel Pink Flowers in Tabletop Vase), 2023

$9,200

H 50 in W 36 in D 1.5 in

Bouquet (Figurative Still Life Painting of Pastel Pink Flowers in Tabletop Vase)

By David Konigsberg

Located in Hudson, NY

Large gestural still life painting of light pink peony flowers in a simple tabletop vase "Bouquet", oil on canvas, 50 x 36 inches Framing is optional, sides are cleanly painted whit...

Category

2010s Contemporary Mary Spain Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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 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.