Mary Li
As I age, I realize that my painting is merely a visual bookmark of my internal journey.
My daily progression is a study in opposites– without formal training, I am both ignorant and free: lacking the foundation of years of study, instruction, and a historical body of work, I can instead synthesize all of my life experiences and energy into the present moment, able to strike out in my own direction and forge my own truth.
For one of my first realizations when I began was that I was painting lies– what I apprehended visually was not what I was rendering on the canvas. With time, I begin to realize that what I am committed to revealing is my own personal vision of truth and beauty– light and dark, the shadow world as well as the transcendent accidental glory of this life.
"Life in all its terrible beauty" seems to underlie my work, no matter how mundane or seemingly trivial the subject. I believe in transparent humanity, in its inexorable turning toward light.
— Mary Li
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Literature University of Michigan
Santa Rosa Junior College Studied oil painting with S. Sanchez
2008-2011 Art Students League NY
Robert Cenedella
Peter Homitsky
Frank O'Cain
Knox Martin
Christine Lafuente
Gregg Kreutz
CAREER
Owner/Designer of furniture manufacturing company, listed in "Top 100 Independent Furniture Companies of America" with 6 showrooms in San Francisco bay area.
EXHIBITIONS
2008 Gallery Concours
2009 Gallery Concours
2009--ongoing "B Train" Saluggi's
2010 6 month group show at Exhibition Outreach W. 57th St.
2010 Gallery Concours with award
2011 Gallery Concours with award
2011 Hotel Chelsea Group Show
2011 Open Studio event at 41 West Union Square
2012 Pen and Brush group show
2012 Meetup.com corporate gallery exhibition
2018 Casa Europea San Miguel de Allende