Contemporary Artist Winner, International Prize Botticelli: 2024
Mary Joan cultivated her passion for oils from an early age, expanding her studies across the United States, Europe, and the Far East. Transitioning from her role as a Professor of Fine Arts and Humanities at FSCJ, she earned her PhD in 2005, subsequently dedicating herself to teaching and exhibiting across the eastern United States. In 2020, M.J. redirected her focus to exclusive artistic pursui
Wings of Alchemy
Mere facades give way to a deeper, more profound reality found only in the subconscious. Each piece is connected to a surrealistic realm, and Wings of Alchemy lends truth to the proverbial message that often things are not what they seem. What is the truth? Is the reality the dream or is the dream the reality? Should we ever be fooled by superficial glamour? Does it distract us from the deeper psychological truths? These works create a new reality by combining seemingly unrelated objects, placing them alone against the "glitter" of an unsettling truth. We question reality because common objects are combined in an obscure composition juxtaposition.
Exhibition Catalog
2026
*JM Gallery, Sint Maarten; *Covet Art Gallery, San Diego, California; *Kavanagh Gallery, St. Charles, IL; *View Arts Center, Old Forge, New York; *Dennis + Ives, Jacksonville, Florida
2025
*York Art Association, York, Pennsylvania; *Distinction Gallery, San Diego, California;
*Union Street Gallery, Chicago, Illinois; *Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, Florida;
*Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, Florida; *Dennis + Ives, Jacksonville, Florida;
*Gloria Delson Contemporary ArtGallery, Los Angeles, California; All Florida Exhibition Stuart, Florida
2024
*Frame of Mind Gallery, Ormond Beach, Florida; *Milan Art Fair, Milan, Italy; *Dennis + Ives, Jacksonville, Florida; *Joe Center for the Arts, Port St. Joe, Florida; *Berlin Art Fair, Berlin, Germany; *Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, Florida; *Holy Art Gallery, New York, New York; *Berlin Art Fair, Berlin, Germany; *Austria Art Fair, Aistersheim, Austria; *Munich Art Fair, Munich, Germany; *MIArt, Miami, Florida
2023
*Elements Exhibition, Biafarin, Canada; *Carrousel du Louvre, Paris, France; *The Sorbonne, Paris, France
January 2024: WINNER: International Prize Botticelli, Florence, Italy
Exhibition Images
The Sorbonne, Espace, Paris, France
"With the disastrous exit of England from the European Union, Paris is increasingly establishing itself as the true capital of art, as it should have always been. A city that frames art like no other and has a population highly devoted to fine art."
"We had our vernissage last Friday, September 1st, 2023, at the charming Sorbonne Space, with a large audience in attendance."
The Style
"The following day, we could confirm what was already known to us: the high volume of visitors to the exhibition, as well as the passing public, which not only had a significant presence but also had a strong appreciation for art. Great new clients and contacts are emerging from there."
"People in Paris LOVED it!"
- Robert Parcus
The South Gallery
"This work changed my life."
The South Gallery
"These works have a soul."
The Haskell Gallery
"I can feel the energy!"
The Haskell Gallery
"The texture is amazing ... they are so tactile!"
Cosmic Synchronicity 2024
Cosmic Sychronicity
Black and White occur simultaneously and seem significantly related but have no actual causal connection. The difference is reflective of the amount of light that can exist in nature and has the highest contrast ratio of 21 to 1. Using them in a positive and negative oppositional relationship creates an explosive composition representing contradictory forces of two extremes. With the organic movement from the earth’s gifts, black and white create an unending and unforgiving juxtaposition of forces that undulate in and out of reality. Are they shapes of the blowing wind or incoming tides? Are they fantasies of our dreams or blooming imagination? This is Western dualism. This is Cosmic Synchronicity.
Impassioned Emotions 2024
IMPASSIONED EMOTIONS
Our inner landscape is carpeted with emotions giving understanding and complexion to our daily existence. Science remains unsure of what emotions are, believing that they may be momentary, unconscious reactions to environmental stimuli. In short, they could be an innate survival tactic universally providing positive or negative clues influencing decision-making. Ecstasy, surprise, and admiration positively denotes psychological aggrandizement; however, grief, sadness, and disgust negatively affect us creating an uneasiness and perhaps a warning. Emotions are an evolutionary stratagem that promotes survival chances. Impassioned Emotions bring color and movement to our positive and negative feelings allowing the viewer the freedom to have their own emotional response to each piece.
Public Art