Mary Munn is a contemporary American painter best known for her figurative and landscape works that explore the divine splendor of the natural world. Her work emphasizes explores the outer world and the secret phenomena that allow the unexpected to inform the free movement of memory and color. Her mastery of traditional drawing techniques aligns her work with earlier artists like Degas and Morisot. Born in Miami, Florida, she first studied at the University of Florida and went on to receive her Masters in Art Education from FIU. She presently lives and works in Deland.
As an artist, mother, and adult adoptee, my work has always pivoted around the intersection of environmental and biological. I am adopted and have two male siblings, neither are biological. I have always wanted to have a sister. As a mother I have been blessed with two beautiful children that have grounded me and enriched my life. I can finally see a part of who I am in their faces. Perhaps even glimpse into faces that preceded theirs and mine.
My Work
My work navigates the intersection of the environmental and biological, and my studio practice allows me to immerse myself in these two intersecting worlds through drawing and painting. Repeated use of these techniques over time can inform our DNA, and in the process of drawing and painting I connect with my ancestors and with the scores of women and men who have filled canvas with paint before me. I am drawn to working with repurposed materials and found objects that bring with them a story or history about their place in this world. My creative ideas are my children. Being a mother and an artist has empowered me and directed me to explore the theme of identity in my work.