Biography
Mary McCoy is an abstract painter who works in multiple mediums, including oil, acrylic, and watercolor. Using a wide palette that ranges from bright colors to earthy tones, McCoy creates pieces inspired by the natural and built environments she finds herself in. After receiving her BFA from the University of Kansas and completing international studies at the Florence University of the Arts, McCoy works as a full-time artist in Wichita, Kansas. Her approach to painting is quite somatic. After studying the world around her, McCoy intuitively and rhythmically moves her body to realize a piece. By fluidly layering paint on canvases, McCoy relinquishes total control over her creations. All of her paintings capture her appreciation of chance and randomness and include details that signal when McCoy has decided to either restrain or extend gestures. McCoy’s works have been purchased by private collectors based across the United States and one piece is part of the permanent collection at the Chateau d’Orquevaux Gallery in France. McCoy is currently preparing for a solo show at Tiffany Farha’s Collective at Lulu.
Artist Statement
I view painting as my attempt to externalize physical sensations that I experience in different environments. When I look at the world around me, I notice the interplay between organic and manmade objects and study their color and composition. These images serve as forms of data that I can inject into my paintings.
In the last two years, I have mainly focused on creating abstract oil paintings. I am inspired by the variety of textures that the medium offers and frequently manipulate my work as it dries to document temporality in a visual way.
Inspired by the works of female abstract expressionist painters, including Lee Krasner, Joan Mitchell, Elaine de Koonig, and Grace Hartigan, I actively try to resist the common conventions tied to technical painting. I do not use a strict calculus or formula to mix colors and my palette is quite raw and ever-evolving. In the time I would spend creating a pure or precise color, I would lose the physical flow or connection that I have to a particular thought or image. Although my paintings are obviously fixed objects, they attempt to preserve kinetic motion through line and gesture.
Painting allows me to intimately connect with my body; my artistic practice is guided by physical intuition, affect, and motion.
Curriculum Vitae:
EDUCATION
2020
University of Kansas, BFA Visual Art, Lawrence, KS
2019
Florence University of the Arts Spring Study Abroad, Florence, Italy
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022
Private Collection Gallery Diderot, Château Orquevaux Artist Residency, France
The Other Art Fair, Saatchi Art, Dallas, TX
Solo Exhibition, Tiffany Farha Design, The Collect at Lulu, Wichita, KS
2021
Solo Exhibition, Pink Saloon, Wichita, KS
Solo Popup, The Little Shop, Wichita, KS
Collaboration Show, Bella Bonita Designs, Wichita KS
2020
Autumn and Art Festival, Wichita Festivals, Wichita, KS
Solo Exhibition, Love of Character, Bradley Fair, Wichita, KS
2019
First Fridays KC, PARIC design, Kansas City, MO
Ganzo Exhibition, Florence University of the Arts, Florence, Italy
2018
Scholarship Show, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
RESIDENCIES
2022
Château d’Orquevaux Artist Residency, Orquevaux, France
AWARDS
2021
The Denis Diderot Grant, Chateau d’Orquevaux Residency, Orquevaux, France
2018
Beatrice L Bonine Painting Scholarship, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2019-Present
Founder, Creator and CEO, Mary McCoy Makes
2016-2017
Museum Ambassador, Spencer Museum of Art, Lawrence, KS
2017
Gallery Assistant Internship, Mark Arts, Wichita, KS
PRESS
2022
Saatchi Art “Best of Dallas”, Published online article
I Digress, “Finding Your Confidence & The Ins and Outs of Being an Artist/creator with Mary McCoy”, Published Podcast Episode
2021
Good Day Kansas, KSN News Station, Online article and aired TV interview
Voyage KC Magazine, Rising Stars: Online Article, Kansas City, KS
2020
Art Jobs, Art Jobs Magazine, Online
Wichita Life ICT, Local Online Resources, Wichita, KS
Kiosk 61: Paradise Lost, The Kiosk Magazine, Lawrence KS