Mary Engel-CV
706-614-8517
Born 1963, Chicago, Illinois
Lives and works in Athens, Georgia
Education
1993 Master of Fine Arts, University of Georgia; Athens, Georgia
1988 Bachelor of Science, Illinois State University; Normal, Illinois
SOLO & TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2023 ‘Sanctuary’ Lyndon House, Athens, Georgia
2022 ’A Gathering’ Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, Tennessee
2021 ‘Beings’, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2019 ‘Her Presence’, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta. Georgia
2014 Solo Exhibition, W Hotel, Atlanta, GA
2013 Solo Exhibition, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2011 Solo Exhibition, Rabbits and Wolves, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2008 Solo Exhibition, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2006 Solo Exhibition, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
2005 Solo Exhibition, Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina
2004 Solo Exhibition, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
2002 Solo Exhibition, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Atlanta, Georgia
2002 Two person Show, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2001 New Work, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
2001 Two Person Show, Wyndy Morehead, New Orleans, Louisiana
1999 New Work, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1999 Two Person Show, Bank of America Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia
1998 New Work, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1997 New Work, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1996 Solo Exhibition, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1995 Two Person Show, Dorothy McRae Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1995 ‘Animals of Time Memory and Place,’ Macon Museum of Arts & Sciences, Macon
1994 Two Person Show, Dorothy McRae Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1993 Solo Exhibition, Dorothy McRae Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1993 ‘Sixth Sense,’ Georgia Museum of Art, Athens, Georgia
1993 M.F.A. Exhibition, Visual Arts Gallery, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 Process, Robert Lange Studio, Charleston, SC
2020 Endangered, Virtual, Miami FL
2019 Toys, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, NC
2018 Sofa Chicago, Blue Spiral Gallery, Chicago, IL
2018 Endangered, Dade Heritage Trust, Miami, Florida
2018 Tick Tock, Time in Contemporary Art, Lehman College Gallery, Bronx NY
2018 Animalia, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina
2017 Endangered, Dade Heritage Trust, Miami, Florida
2017 Unloaded, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
2017 Homage, Vendue, Charleston SC
2016 Endangered, Dade Heritage Trust, Miami, Florida
2016 NCECA Exhibit, Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City MO
2016 Lions Tigers and Bears, Vendue, Charleston, SC
2015 Nature, Revealed Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, Terminal T, Atlanta, Georgia
2015 Ceramix, Atlanta Hartsfield Airport, Terminal E, Atlanta Georgia
2015 Fluent, Vendue, Charleston, SC
2014 I See a Pattern, Vendue, Charleston, SC
2014 Man’s Best Friend, Warm Springs Gallery, Charlottesville, VA
2013 Here Now, Vendue, Charleston SC
2013 Art in Embassies, United States Embassy, Rome, Italy
2010 Materials Unexpected, Artspace, Tryon, NC
2010 Professori di Cortona Exhibition, Chastain Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia
2009 SOFA, NY, Leslie Ferrin Gallery,
2008 Animal Imagery, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, North Carolina
2008 "This Just In", Marcia Wood Gallery, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2007 Pulse Miami, Marcia Wood Gallery, Miami, FL
2007 FLOW Miami Art Fair, with Marcia Wood Gallery, Miami, FL
2006 FLOW Miami Art Fair, with Marcia Wood Gallery, Miami, FL
2006 ART212, Marcia Wood Gallery, New York, NY
2005 Pulse Miami, Marcia Wood Gallery, Miami Florida
2005 AAF Contemporary Art Fair, Marcia Wood Gallery, New York, NY
2005 Art Chicago, Marcia Wood Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2005 Man’s Best Friend, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2004 AAF Contemporary Art Fair, Marcia Wood Gallery, New York, NY
2004 Dog Days Show, Kathleen Ewing Gallery, Washington DC
2003 Tickled Pink, Marcia Wood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
2003 Clay, Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta Georgia
2003 7 Artists, Lyndon House Arts Center, Athens Georgia
2002 20th Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection, Napa, California, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama
2001 ‘Southern Narratives,’ Invitational, Spirit Square, Charlotte, North Carolina
2001 ‘Birds Beasts and Little Fishes,’ Invitational, Santa Fe Clay, Santa Fe, NM
2001 ‘Black and White,’ Invitational, Blue Spiral, Asheville, North Carolina
2000 Three Person Show, Invitational, OCAF, Watkinsville, Georgia
2000 ‘Fins, Feathers and Fur’ Invitational, Swan Coach House, Atlanta, Georgia
1998 ‘Red Clay Survey,’ Juried, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Alabama
1998 ‘Anderson Ranch Artists’ Invitational, Evelyn Siegal Gallery, Ft Worth, TX
1998 ‘Southworks,’ Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, Georgia
1998 Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, Georgia
1998 Arts Foundation, Watkinsville, Georgia
1997 ‘Figurative Ceramics,’ Invitational, Asheville Museum of Art, Asheville, NC
1997 ‘Four Atlanta Artists,’ Invitational, Marguerite Oestriecher Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
1997 ‘Common Borders’ Invitational, Clemson University, Clemson, SC
1997 ‘Tea Pot Show’ Invitational, Dorothy Weiss Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1997 ‘Cross Currents,’ Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs, MS
1997 ‘Materials Hard and Soft’ Juried Exhibition, Center for the Visual Arts, Denton, Texas
1997 ‘The Dog in American Craft’ Juried, Museum of the Dog, St. Louis, MO
1996 ‘Dog Show’ Invitational, Dorothy Weiss Gallery, San Francisco, California
1996 ‘Spotlight '96’ Juried, Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, Louisville, KY
1996 ‘LaGrange National Biennial XIX’ Juried, LaGrange College, LaGrange, Georgia
1996 23rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Lyndon House Art Center, Athens, Georgia
1996 ‘Five Ring Circus’ Invitational, Madison Morgan Art Center, Madison, GA
1995 ‘Southeastern Fine Crafts Biennial’ Invitational, Florida Gulf Coast Art Center, Belleair, Florida, and DeLand Museum of Art, DeLand, Florida
1994 ‘Sculpture South '94’ Invitational, South Carolina State Museum, SC
1994 ‘Visiting Faculty Show’ Invitational, Anderson Ranch Art Center, Colorado
1994 Sculpture in Public Places Invitational, Wachovia Plaza, Greenville, SC
1994 Three Person Show, Invitational, Loyola University, Loyola, Louisiana
1994 ‘A Humanist’s View’ Clark Hall Gallery, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
1993 ‘Ceramics from the Permanent Collection,’ Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon, Georgia
1993 Southeastern Juried Exhibition, Fine Arts Museum of the South, Mobile, AL
1993 New Generations’ Juried, Habitat Shaw Gallery, Farmington Hills, Michigan
1992 Pewabic Christmas Exhibition, Invitational, Pewabic Pottery, Detroit, MI
1991 ‘Ceramics Southeast’ Visual Arts Gallery, University of GA, Athens, GA
1990 ‘Summer Assistants Show,’ Invitational, Anderson Ranch Art, Snowmass Village, Colorado
1990 ‘Artist-in-Residence Exhibition,’ Invitational, Appalachian Center for Crafts,
1990 ‘Emerging Artists From ACC,’ Invitational, Rose Center, Morristown, TN
1989 ‘Anagama 8 Exhibition,’ Invitational, Art Market, Knoxville, Tennessee
1988 ‘Fall Invitational '88,’ Norris Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, Illinois
1998 ‘The Great Lakes Show,’ Juried, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1986 ‘Chicago and Vicinity Clay V,’ Juried, Lill Street Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Children’s Healthcare of Scottish Rite, Atlanta, Georgia
Disney ESPN, Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia
Presidents Collection - UGA, Athens, Georgia
Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, Macon, Georgia
Florida Gulf Coast Art Center, Bellair, Florida
Southwestern Michigan College, Dowagiac, Michigan
Detroit Zoo, Detroit Michigan
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
REVIEWS
ArtInfo.com. Robert Ayers. “Art Basel Miami: The New Fairs, Part 2: Flow.” December 8, 2006.
Artnet Magazine. Walter Robinson. “Maximum Miami.” December 12, 2005.
BARK. Berkeley, California. Cameron Woo. “Two artists recycle everyday objects into Sculpture.” Fall 2005.
Southern Living. Carolanne Griffith Roberts. “Doggone Art.” October 2005.
Access Atlanta. Catherine Fox. “Animal behavior unleashed.” January 2005.
Georgia Magazine. Allyson Mann. “Dogs Are This Artist’s Best Friend.” Dec 2004.
The Oconee Enterprise. “Mary Engel visiting OCES with her pets.” March 2003.Q
Mountain Life. North Carolina. Janet Kendall Jones. “Inspiration, Passion, and Nature in Clay.” May/June 2003.
Pasatiempo. Santa Fe, New Mexico. Craig Smith. “Engel and Nasisse: Two takes on clay.” March 2002.
THE Magazine. Santa Fe, New Mexico. Laura Addison. “Critical Reflections.” May 2002.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jerry Cullum. “Canine companions in the garden.” Sept 2002.
Athens Magazine. Melissa Link. “Mary Engel’s creative canines.” October 2002.
Flagpole Magazine. Athens, Georgia. Jennifer Schultz. “Working Like a Dog.” Jan 2001.
Lagniappe. New Orleans, Louisiana. Doug McCash. “Special Touches.” Dec 2001.
Athens Banner-Herald Daily News. Mary Jessica Hammes. “Earth Transformed.” May 2000.
Ceramics Monthly. Marion, Ohio. “Upfront: Mary Engel and Andy Nasisse.” March 2000.
Athens Daily News. Tracie Newton. “Juried exhibit featuring varied talent.” April 1998.
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. Anna Brutzman. “Memory in Clay.” January 1997.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Pamela Blume Leonard. “Skin Deep: Artist seeks meaning in junk-covered creations.” December 1996.
The Museum of Arts and Sciences. Suzanne Harper. “Mary Engel: Animals of Time, Memory, and Place. January/March 1995.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Pamela Blume Leonard. December 1995.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jerry Cullum. “Sketchbook.” December 1994.
INCLUSIONS IN OTHER CATALOGS AND BOOKS
Clay A Studio Handbook, American Ceramics Society Publishing, Vince Pitelka.2016
The Contemporary Art of Nature, Mammals. Schiffer Publishing LTD. Ashley Rooney.2014
Prints on Clay. Lark Crafts. Paul Andrew Wandless. 2013
The Best of 500 Ceramics. Lark Crafts. Linda Kopp. 2012
100 Southern Artists. Schiffer Publishing LTD. Ashley Rooney. 2012
Korean Monthly Ceramic Art, Ceramic Artist Residency, August 2011
Southern Distinction. Kelly Acosta. “Urban Renewal.” October 2005.
Art Papers. Atlanta, Georgia. Debbie Michaud. “Tickled Pink.” Nov/Dec 2003.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Julie Phillips Jordan. “How now, painted cow?” June 2003.
The Artful Teapot. Watson-Guptill Publications, New York. Garth Clark. May 2002.
ArtNews. Atlanta, Georgia. Jerry Cullum. “An Invigorating Scene.” December 2002.
Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. David Hopes. “Signs of grief: Works of Daniel Nevins featured with ‘Loss (Love’s Old Sweet Song)’ plus exhibits of other artists.” November 2001.
WHERE/Atlanta. Samantha Slaven. “Made In Atlanta: Atlanta-based designers and
artists are making news all over the country.” July 1995.
Avenues. Athens, Georgia. Wendy Higbee. “Moving beyond pink flamingos.” Jun 1995.
Art Papers. Atlanta, Georgia. Carol La Fayette. “Reviews: Mary Engel.” May 1994.
PICTURED AND RECOGNIZED
Art Auction. Marcia Wood Gallery, February 2013
Atlanta Magazine. Virginia Parker. Datebook. November 2006.
Atlanta Peach Magazine. November 2006.
Carolina Arts. Hodges Taylor Gallery. “Mary Engel: Recent Works.” May/July 2005.
Neiman Marcus. December 2005.
Traditional Home. “A Fresh Shade of Bungalow.” September 2004.
American Craft. Marcia Wood Gallery: Atlanta Botanical Garden. Sept/Dec 2002.
Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. “Inside the Rainbow.” September 2000. 5.
Holiday Wishes & Hints. Atlanta, Georgia. Marcia Wood Gallery: “Mary Engel.” December/January 2000.
Contemporary Ceramics from Georgia Collections. The Museum of Arts and Sciences. April/June 1999.
Art Papers. Atlanta, GA. Richard Sudden. “New Work.” December/January 1998.
Creative Loafing. Atlanta, Georgia. Marsha McSpadden. “Week At a Glance.” Dec 1998.
Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles. “Modern Times.” September 1996.
American Craft. Dorothy Weiss Gallery: “Dog Show.” October/November 1996.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Pictured in Announcements: November 1996.
American Craft. Marcia Wood Gallery: “New Work.” November/December 1996.
American Craft. The Museum of Arts & Sciences. January/March 1995.
SouthArt: A Guide to Galleries. “Highlights” February/March 1995.
Mary with her two dogs, Gabrielle and Tinkerbell.
I live in Athens Georgia with my husband, Chris, dog, Gabe and 300,000 honeybees. Walks with Gabe and time spent in nature deepens my connection with the land and its inhabitants. We plant flowers, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees and bushes for honeybees, hummingbirds, a prolific family of blue birds, gold finch, butterflies and many other beings including ourselves. I am thrilled with all the creatures who visit and enjoy the bounty. I love visiting sacred sites, hiking, swimming and chance encounters with animals. Favorite sightings have been puma, giant condors, wombats, Tasmanian devils, sloth, coati, bears and orangutans (at the Center for Great Apes Sanctuary).
I have been sculpting animals for over 30 years. I create from a place of mysticism, symbolism and reverence. My desire is to depict the animal as an individual, reveal their profound spirit and call attention to the needs of its herd, pack, pod or family. My intention is, to share stories for those who cannot speak for themselves and advocate for multi species environmental justice. This body of work is a response to the unprecedented global crisis of species loss and endangerment. The grief I feel at this loss is rivaled only by the beauty of the animal’s presence. I respond to this simultaneous joy and sadness by creating pieces that are a celebration of the animal’s spirit, holding them in highest light.
Rhinoceros have been evolving for over 55 million years. Though born in captivity the last two northern white rhinos that will ever exist have been moved to Kenya and are protected 24/7. I named the most recent rhino sculptures Najin and Fatu to honor them. I wanted to portray Najins power sweetness and elegance. She stands peacefully and is embellished with hundreds of animals, pearls, jewels, buttons and crystals.
Mother sister Jaguar, puma, cougar, revered as fierce and mysterious with the ability to move between worlds. I often dream I am running alongside jaguar then become her. I am agile and powerful. I can see the landscape and other animals through her eyes, I feel the earth beneath my feet and the wind in my fur. These dreams and a thrilling encounter with a puma in Patagonia have inspired the watch jaguar.
Cultures all over the world associate bear with strength, nobility, rebirth and protectection. I have met several bears, from a distance, polar bears only in my dreams. I am impressed with their immense size and graceful movement. ‘Hibernating Bear’ was created in response to the reversed legal protection for bears while hibernating. The females are often pregnant and give birth in their hibernation den. The pose of this sculpture is vulnerable yet muscled with large claws. She is part of a series of sculptures including lion, elephant and rhinoceros that are covered with bullets. My hope is to highlight the urgent need to protect these magnificent beings and preserve their habitat.
I love what Bell Hooks wrote, ‘The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is, it's to imagine what is possible’. I imagine a world where we take physical steps to help whatever causes are most important to us and, collectively dream a new dream into being, one where we care for each other the land and animals.