Mary Jo Mann is a painter and a dabbler in ceramics working in Portland, Oregon. She has utilized her art practice to capture her thoughts and feelings from a very young age. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts from Seattle University which provided a foundation for her painting practice. She was a member of the cooperative gallery, Gallery 114 from 2013 - 2020.
Her studio time has become a meditative practice. Her work is inspired by time spent outdoors absorbing the light, feeling the breeze, and observing natural forms. Mary Jo's ceramic practice came later in life when she had an urge to work in 3 dimensions, rather than 2. She finds that incorporating new materials into her art practice can open up new ideas.
Finally, Mary Jo believes that we are all interconnected: plant, animal, human, earth. Her work contains the sense of the human experience in the natural world.
"I am a painter tapping into the mysterious thing that is human creativity. I have realized how much we are interdependent on each other and this amazing planet. The mysterious force that is creativity shows me how connections are critical and inherent in our human experience. My recent painting explores the marks that elements such as air, water, light and wind make upon the earth. As well as the organic forms and marks we encounter every day. By using accidental marks such as drips, and splashes along with strong gestures I create pathways through my compositions. Human interdependence and connection to the natural world is the underlying subject of my work. I experience painting and making as a form of meditation. I strive to get out of the way of the painting, and let my natural impulse lead me." |
Media: Ceramics/Pottery | Mixed Media | Painting | Watercolor
Studio Number: 65
Address: 2036 SE Lincoln St Portland OR 97214
Community: SE Portland
Accessibility: Not Wheelchair accessible (slight incline, some steps)
Email: maryjomannpdx@gmail.com
Website: maryjomann.com
Instagram: @mannmaryjo
