An Answer to the Problem Painting

Bio East Coast artist, Marie Tosto, has been formally honing her skills as an artist since 1986. Her undergraduate degree is from Moore College of Art and Design in Textile Design. She received her Post Baccalaureate and MFA from The Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She has work in private collections across the United States and in commercial residential space in Dubai. Marie blends her dedication to her studio practice with the marketing, sales, and customer service skills she gleaned from a long history in the retail cosmetics industry. Surprised to learn how unexpectedly the two dovetail into creating a balanced art practice. The catalyst for Marie’s vision is communication and boundaries. Dichotomy, tension, line work, color, humor, mood… these are the components used to invite the viewer to interpret the narrative for themselves. The underlying theme is that mistakes are universal and essential for growth. When this becomes an expected part of the process, a safe place is provided for the inevitable and necessary missteps to occur. Which, in turn, allows the conversation to expand past simple academic applications and formalities. These are the tools that allow her work to evolve. Knowing how to listen to the work is an exercise that Marie continually employs and teaches. As an extroverted introvert, Marie’s big picture goal is to have her reach be broad but her circles small. This is evidenced in her work. Outwardly transparent, her paintings and drawings are elegant, sometimes aggressive, curious, and… occasionally funny. Yet, there is the sense that there’s more to the story that intentionally isn’t being revealed. Artist Statement I make two-dimensional works on canvas, panel, and paper that occasionally present an image or subject matter that is recognizable. I enjoy the interplay of color and line mixed with a narrative that is open for interpretation. My favorite thing is when someone tells me that they see their story in the work. My intention is to express myself honestly, while simultaneously being able to let go of my singular narrative. The work becomes the catalyst for a conversation which is no longer only about me and my details. It becomes a broader, more inclusive vehicle for understanding our shared journeys and inherent bonds. There’s a connecting thread that runs through all of us. Regardless of anyone's backstory, our emotional experiences are often more alike than different.