Mary Jo Parker O'Hearn

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA in 1946. I grew up in the Chicago, Il. suburbs. I've raised 5 children and held various jobs over the years, some in the art field.My first job was as a fashion illustrator, followed by a newspaper artist/illustrator and cartoonist.Other jobs included retail, food service and independent muralist/trompe l'oile artist. My artwork is constantly evolving. Generally, my preferance is figurative work, but abstract and encaustic draw me in. Assemblage and dimensional work occasionally figure into my work as well. My most recent series is a melding of figurative and abstract. Each piece begins as an authentic abstract painted while blocking out the thought of any figures. Once I am satisfied with the abstract I study it and search for faces or figures hoping that they will let me know they are in there. Then I get to know them and we start a conversation. My hope is that these figures comntinue their dialogue with every viewer.

I have no formal art education. I learned the basics from high school classes and various independent classes as well as from working with other artists.

Jett Sett Gallery, Chicago, Il. 1998 Belle Kaye Gallery, Chicago, Il. 1998 Cheny Mansion Summer Show Oak Park Il. 1999Out of the Box Gallery, 2002-2009Fused 2, Chicago Il 2010, Womanmade Gallery Midwest Annual Show, Chicago, Hot Wax, Morpho Gallery Chicago, Emerging Artist, Morpho Gallery Chicago2017, Inner Space - Outer Space, Gallery Pink, Oak Park, IL.2017, Abstract Show, OPAL, Oak Park, Il.