We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Josephson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with mary below.

Mary, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My first Public Art Project was for the waiting area for Family Court inside the Donald Long Juvenile Justice Complex in Portland, Oregon. I waited in that area myself as a single mother and wished I had something to look at that calmed my nerves and lifted my spirits. When the Call for Art for the space happened I knew how I wanted to transform the space, and comfort those who often had to wait for hours for their case to be called..
I made 2 paintings for the project, one a scene of a family reading a book together, another a park scene filled with diverse people immersed in myriad of activities, surrounded by lush vegetation, birds and animals.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Through my work I have illuminated important issues and ideas, among them: our sense of community and identity, equality, diversity, equality of gender, protection of the environment- wilderness land and animals, agriculture-the source of our food and nutrition, the harvest- those who plant and harvest, the family-both intimately and globally.

I hope to create a sense of connectedness, compassion, respect and responsibility for creatures all over the world, illustrating our similarities rather than dwelling on our differences. Painting the rituals of living, the heroics of everyday life portray this belief, finding those elements that are authentic and echo universal human experience. Good humor and a playful positive outlook permeate my vision.
By immersing figures in lush vibrant landscape attention and importance is focused on the beauty and bounty of our planet. It is through my public work that these ideas truly shine. The research necessary for each project informed my work and changed my view of the world.

During my career have made artwork in a variety of mediums, fueling a love of experimentation; elaborate hand embroidered and beaded portrait narratives, glass and mirrored mosaic tableau, oil paintings incorporating glass and multi-colored lithograph editions. When experimenting with a new medium there is awkwardness to the image, and beauty in the imperfection.
I will continue to try new forms of expression while pursuing the mysteries of paint
I have never felt more capable or committed to my career and look forward to working in my studio and out in the community, designing artwork that could then be translated into a myriad of materials through collaboration, working with artists and fabricators, realizing dreams.

Currently I have illustrated and published a children’s book entitled “Let’s Dance”, a collaboration with Jay Horton and Aurora Josephson.
And have a solo exhibition “Off The Map” at Portland Arts Collective.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Being a Professional Artist is a 24 hour a day job. It is a passionate pursuit that may look easy- like anyone could easily do it. I do not believe many who are not involved in the arts realize the long hours involved in a creative arts career. For the self employed full time artist so many projects are being worked on a once, many irons in the fire in order to be successful. An artist must be all in, the farthest thing from being lazy.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Nothing enlivens a place like real art in both exterior and interior spaces. When a company or individual buys real art it means they care enough to have something authentic which speaks directly to the viewer, there is nothing like it. The artist and the economy profit.
Case in point, many hospitals feature real artwork, often from local artists because they know the healing power of real artwork. If I go into a public building and see faded prints on the wall I feel like the business does not care about me.
So many people would benefit by investing in real artwork.

Contact Info:

• Website: https:/:www.maryjosephson.com
• Instagram: @maryjosephson
• Linkedin: Mary Josephson
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/4-_ZL-nhSeE?si=VrsmEky2gIuVS18Z

Image Credits

all images copyright mary josephson