By Rebecca Pikus
Mary Ann Collins is indeed a unique artist! She has lived now — and created art — in the inspirational surrounding of Southern California for more than fifty years. She is a dedicated artist based in Manhattan Beach, Ca.
Collins excels in multi-media sculptures, but her creative diversity also encompasses fiber art, ceramics, bronze and aluminum casting, jewelry and metalsmithing. In addition, she is a talented two dimensional artist, primarily drawing, painting and photography. Her work has evolved from small objects to life sized human clay sculptures and gigantic ruby red lips.
Material and form have always been a huge part of her inspiration when creating sculpture. Looking for the deeper meaning is usually in order with each of her pieces. Typically innuendo and personalized reflection are found in each piece. There is always a cache of works in progress to discuss.
As a native born “Angelina” (Los Angeles, CA), Mary Ann Collins has been influenced by the beauty, the diversity of the landscape, as well as the people of Southern California. Every aspect of life inspires her art, from a sunrise to the birth of a grandchild.
Her interest in creating art has been life-long. What was once a hobby for many years grew into her passion. Even before her formal education she was experimenting with numerous mediums which included drawing, painting, printmaking, metals, fibers, woods and ceramics. She achieved success as an artist, but wanted to grow her talent by going back to school to learn and experiment with new concepts and techniques.
A return to school several years ago resulted in Collins obtaining an Associate in Arts Degree in Studio Arts from El Camino College. She continued honing her skills and achieved her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with an Emphasis in Sculpture from CSU Long Beach. Sculpture, she found, had no limitations — allowing her to use an inexhaustible spectrum of resources to produce pieces as minute as a fly to the size of a door opening. Other education came from attending SMCC, ISOMATA, PV Art Center and artist to artist training.
Collins is inspired from her extensive travels around the world as well as her own life experiences. Other cultures, nature, people, the human body, various natural and/or man-made materials, and textures stimulate her creativity. She generates pieces in a variety of mediums in two and three dimensions. Her work has been exhibited in numerous galleries and homes in states as diverse as Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.
Somewhat ironically, Collins has a very strong streak of romanticism in her work. Her Sculptures presently on exhibit include a Degas-influenced bronze bustier in a deep, rich purple color, entitled “Passionate” a stone sculpture of 2 lovers tenderly embracing entitled “You are my Rock, my Heart, my Soul” and a bronze with repeated symbols XOXOXOXO entitled, obviously, “Love + Love + Love”.
Mary Ann Collins – Current Exhibition “Visually Speaking: Color & Light” – Guest Curator: Joe Novak — through December 31, 2016 at REBECCA FINE ART GALLERY, 68895 Perez Rd, #7, Cathedral City, Ca (760) 534-5888 — see Collins’ work on Fineartvortex.com – Gallery Hours: WED.-SAT. 11am-4pm, or By Appointment
