Mary Josephson
Mary Josephson’s figurative paintings resonate with vibrancy. The monumentality and expressiveness of her figures are accentuated by vivid colors and influenced by such artists as Paul Gauguin and Diego Rivera. Her figures may be situated in nature, lost in thought, communing with the animals, or holding a favorite fruit. In this exhibition Josephson explores being transported by the senses through memory and association. Her childhood memories include moving frequently from place to place and recollect a connection between certain locations and a love of fruits and vegetables. These remembered objects become symbols for a life gone by enabling the mind and senses to be transported to another place. Her lush settings draw the viewer in to realize thoughts or memories of how things were or might have been.
Mary Josephson has exhibited her work for over 20 years. She studied in Paris, France, at the École National Superior des Beaux Arts before receiving a BFA from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 1986. Her work has been shown at the Portland Art Museum, the Oregon Health Sciences University, the University of Austin, Texas, and the Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA. Prominent collections include the Safeco Collection, Microsoft, Oregon State University, Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital, and the Portland Art Museum. Recent commissions include work for the Tigard Public Library, OR, Intersections for the Portland Fire and Rescue, OR, and Catlin Gabel School in Portland.