Mary Breneman, Watermelon Still Life

- Oil on canvas, framed

- Introducing a new series of oil paintings by beloved Hudson Valley-based artist Mary Breneman. Inspired by early American modernists like Milton Avery and Arthur Dove, as well as the painterly realism of Fairfield Porter, Breneman’s latest collection includes iconic Block Island vistas, 19th century American architecture, lush landscapes, and intimate still life works.

- Formerly an art director in the advertising industry and a decorative muralist, Breneman’s life has been immersed in and shaped by art. At 50, she made the decision to invest fully in her fine art practice, moving to San Miguel de Allende, an artistic destination in Mexico’s central highlands. She started her own gallery there, painting and selling works that celebrated vibrant Mexican culture and landscape. After 15 years, she returned to the US in 2014 and settled in Hudson, New York where her work has taken on a new palette and vision. Long walks in nature, taking in the fleeting seasons and quietude of the Northeast have greatly informed her practice. Drawing from sketches and photographs taken on these walks, but also memory and emotion, Breneman’s paintings explore the depth and expressive possibilities of color and form. Each conveys the artist’s endless curiosity and passion for the world around her.