Mary Farnum Burnley

Biography

Mary earned a B.A. from Murray State University and an M.A. from the University of Louisville. She has studied independently with Arturo Sandoval, University of Kentucky; Kathy Kelm, Nantucket School of Art and Design; Alma Lesch, University of Louisville; and at the Instituto de Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She has exhibited in numerous, solo, two-person and group exhibitions. Having taught Art in Jefferson Country at the high school level and adult classes through Louisville Visual Arts. She left teaching to travel in much of the U.S. selling her work to individuals and corporations. She received numerous awards and is included in collections of universities, hospitals, corporations including the United States government, the Ford motor company and Merrill Lynch.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I make art because I have always made art.
I see a thing and the shape or the shadows of the juxtaposition to another thing makes me put it down in paint. I see a bit of rusty schmutz and I turn it into a collage. In waiting rooms I draw my surroundings in my mind. I get distracted by the light reflecting on a scratched surface. Two colors bleeding together intrigue me.

Everything is art or ready to be made into art.