Aerial 01 Painting

Minneapolis based abstract and mixed media artist Mary Leir studied architecture and studio arts at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and is a graphic designer by profession. Now in her third session of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design's Open Edition Print Seminar, Mary has grown to love screen printing as much as she does painting and photography. In this series, each print is dense with shapes and textures "found" when scanning objects, her collages and her paintings. Constructed with many layers and using the most vibrant colors, the prints are a combination of hand made gestures, compositions, and patterns with computer editing, sampling and remixing. Inspired by the abstract expressionist movement, modern and contemporary posters, maps, geography and the idea of archeology, Mary's unfolding imagery explores the connection between our interior worlds and constructed exterior spaces. Helen Frankenthaler, Franz Kline, Richard Diebenkorn, Robert Rauschenberg, and Hans Hofmann, are among her favorite artists. Mary has been in several group shows in Minnesota and has had two solo exhibits to date.