Last year we celebrated the first 20 years of the MARY LIZ MEMORIAL MASTERS EXHIBITION, the highest accolade we can bestow on artists in our community. That retrospective showcased eight artists chosen as MARY LIZ FELLOWS for the second or third time.
We begin a brand-new decade with a three artists singled out for this honor for the very first time. While they clearly share a common lineage of creativity, each MLMME21 Fellow has different stories to tell and a distinctive relationship with our space.
ERICA HARNEY is appearing at OFF THE WALL for the sixth time, since announcing her presence in 2013 with paintings from her “Portmanteau” series, playful takes on verbal and visual language. Her penchant for producing original, cohesive and prolific bodies of work has never waned. Here Erica continues two series familiar to our audiences: “The World Without Us” paeans to nature and her “Paint Skin” collages, embodying a commitment to reclaiming and recycling materials from her scenic design work. Plus, the artist introduces a brand-new collection of “Tondi,” updating a Renaissance configuration to modern and timeless global settings.
PAUL SMITH has been part of our community for quite some time — yet he is remarkably making his debut on our Wall. Yes, he has contributed artwork to DIRTY FRANKS fundraising events and already has a good number of fans among us, but the stars never quite aligned for Paul to find the right show. That all changes with MLMME21, a fitting platform for his stellar talents. His 13 canvases (with a 14th online only) move from strength to strength across his two favorite subjects to depict in oils: portraiture and landscapes.
VARVÀRA FERN likewise arrives in style, making our 3D space her own in this, her OFF THE WALL bow. A sculptor who has carved out a mature niche and a tremendous following — just check out Varvàra’s Instagram — while still early in her career. Like her colleagues, the artist and her discipline are grounded in classical training, beginning at the Moscow State Surikov Academy of Fine Arts and extending to PAFA, where she earned her certificate and an MFA. But Varvàra’s capacity to convey snapshots of emotion and to engage in extended storytelling, working in clay, plaster and resin, is both vivid and compelling.
Our tradition continues — and rarely has it been in surer, more inspiring hands. We encourage you to spend time with this year’s edition of MLMME. And please return as often as you can, between now and April 24.
TO VIEW, SHOP AND PURCHASE ARTWORK, please go to the menu and click on each artist’s name.
NOTA BENE TO ONLINE BUYERS: While we requisition in-person purchases on an almost-daily basis, it is still possible that you may purchase something on this website that may have already sold in our Gallery. We will make every effort to avoid this circumstance.
