Mary Obering Explained

Mary Obering
Birth Date:1937
Birth Place:Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Death Date:July 29, 2022 (aged 85)
Death Place:New York, U.S.
Known For:Abstract art

Mary Obering (1937 – July 29, 2022) was an American painter focusing mainly on geometric abstraction.

Early life and education

Obering was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1937.[1] When Obering was a teenager, she visited Italy for the first time – the formative trip introduced her to art and Renaissance painting, an experience that Obering said "was always in the back of [her] mind."[2]

Obering received her BA in psychology from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia in 1959.[3] Later that year, she attended graduate school for psychology at Radcliffe College, studying under noted behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner, who taught at Harvard University at the time.[4]

Obering then moved to New York City to work for CBS, where she studied at the Art Students League. In the mid-1960s she moved again, this time to Denver with her husband and young daughter and received an MFA from the University of Denver in 1971.[5]

Style and technique

Obering began in sculpture, but soon moved into painting. Her first paintings were Color Field paintings, inspired by Mark Rothko. Obering continued to work in abstraction, while incorporating techniques, such as gilded wood panels, that are reminiscent of early Italian art. [6] Critics have also described her work as looking like "an exotic form of sculpture."[7]

Exhibitions

In September 2018, Obering had a solo exhibition in Los Angeles at Kayne Griffin Corcoran where she exhibited acrylic on canvas paintings from the 1970s.[8] Obering is represented by both Kayne Griffin Corcoran in Los Angeles and Bortolami in New York.[9]

Selected Exhibition History:[10]

Personal life and death

Obering died in New York City on July 29, 2022, at the age of 85.[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: Less is More. Paglia. Michael. September 19, 1996. Westword.
  2. News: Soho Stalwart Mary Obering Talks Art History. Gallagher. Emily. December 11, 2017.
  3. News: An Artful Year. May 7, 2012.
  4. News: Soho Stalwart Mary Obering Talks Art History. Gallagher. Emily. December 11, 2017.
  5. Book: Obering, Mary. Untitled [Thesis]]. Obering. 1971. Denver, Colorado.
  6. Web site: Real Ideal. Museum of Fine Art, Boston. March 31, 2018.
  7. Web site: Art in Review. Cotter. Holland. 1995. New York Times. March 31, 2018.
  8. Web site: Mary Obering paintings exhibited in Los Angeles for the first time. Pechman. Alexandra. September 18, 2018. www.wallpaper.com. en. March 6, 2020.
  9. Web site: Bortolami Now Represents Mary Obering. Selvin. Claire. March 12, 2019. www.artnews.com. en. March 6, 2020.
  10. Web site: Mary Obering – Exhibitions. Obering. Mary.
  11. News: Greenberger . Alex . Mary Obering, Abstract Painter With a Passionate Following, Dies at 85 . August 3, 2022 . ARTnews . August 2, 2022.

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