My work celebrates the imperfection and messiness of human existence. Instinct, chance, and materials are the forces that drive me. I embrace clumsiness and flaws. I leave the rawness of the paint because it does very interesting things on its own.
Currently, while addressing concepts of dislocation, I use cartoonish body parts to inject comic relief into this sober subject matter.
CV
Education
BFA Painting and Printmaking, Virginia Commonwealth University
MFA Lesley University College of Art and Design
DFA University of East London
Selected One-Person Shows
2024 The Painting Center, New York (two person)
2023 Shipwreck, Prince Street Gallery, New York
2021 Installation, La Casa Abbandonata, Avellino
2020 Tanti Saluti! CICA Museum, Gimpo-Si, South Korea
2019 Desirable Residence, Poplar Union, London
2018 Viva Exhibition, University of East London
Spiccioli/ Spare Change, Spazio Arte, Fara D'Adda, Milan
2010 Celebrating Green, DeBerry Gallery, University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, NC.
2008 Leaves, La Galleria di Francesca Castelli , Modena.
Grazie della Vita, Castello Borromeo, Corneliano Bertario, Milan.
2007 Quadri da Indossare, AP gallery, Milan.
2006 Natura e Fibre, Spazio 4, Milan.
2003 Paesaggi, La Galleria di Francesca Castelli, Modena.
2002 Lavori Nuovi, Castello Borromeo, Corneliano Bertario.
1999 Paintings, The John and Seymour Rennolds Gallery
St. Catherine’s School, Richmond, VA. 1998 Work on Paper,
American Consulate, Milan.
1997 Luoghi Immaginati, Galleria Il Punto A Cassano D'Adda, Milan
Selected Group Shows
2024 Poplar Union, London
2023 Making the Cut, Shoebox Gallery, Los Angeles
2022 Atina, Frozinone, Italy
2022 Astadarte, Gate 44, Milan
2022 hArtslane Gallery, London, Atina Residency Exhibition
2022 1200 Postcards, Hastings, UK
2022 Ensemble, Together Again, The Painting Center, New York
2021 Group Show, Shrine, New York, online
2021 Cladogram, Katonah Museum Biennial, New York
2021 Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, The Painting Center, New York
2020 Incipit, Gate 44, Milan
2020 A World without End, No barking Art, London
2020 PassaggiAtina, Hartslane Gallery, London
2019 Abstract Mind, CICA Museum, Gimpo-si, South Korea
2018 Natura Madre, Castello Borromeo, Corneliano Bertario
At Home in Bow, The Apartment, Bow Arts, London
2017 A Titolo d'Ingresso, Spazio Arte, Fare D'Adda, Milan
2016 Clandestina, Silmar Contemporary, Milan
Stanze, Palazzo Arcivescovile, Gropello D'Adda, Milan
Showcase, AVA Gallery, University of East London
2015 15/18, Castello Borromeo, Corneliano Bertario, Milan
Warehouse XI " Reclassified", Cambridge, MA.
Wish You Were Here, A.I.R. Gallery, New York
Open Studios, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT.
2014 Thirst, Bedlam Gallery, Brunel University, London
Generations, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY.
Art Workplace, Segreen, Milan
Arte di fare dei Libri, Arte su Carte, Modena
2013 Deciphering Identity, Jewett Gallery, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA.
Io Sto per Topolo, Galleria L'Affiche, Milan.
2012 Vasili Arkhipov: The Man Who Saved the World, Boston, MA.
Boston Young Contemporaries, 808 Gallery, Boston University, Boston, MA.
2011 C’è Un Disegno per Milano, Galleria L'Affiche, Milan.
Leggere non Leggere, Derbylius, Milan.
Artisti per la Salute, Derbylius, Milan.
Open Exhibition, Studio 106, London.
Food for Thought, The Gallery at Willesden Green, London. Gallery Artists, Galleria L'Image, Rome.
2008 In Città, La Galleria di Francesca Castelli, Modena. 2007 Free, Five Years, London
Post It Show, Another Roadside Attraction, London. 2006 Peer Esteem, Five Years, London.
2005 La Neve, Castello Borromeo, Milan
2003 The Universe, ADA Gallery, Richmond, VA.
1999 Grand Cru, Galleria L'Affiche, Milan.
Public Collections
CICA Museum, South Korea
Brunel University, London
Comune di Truccazzano, Milan
Istituto dei Tumori, Milan
Commissions
DeJorio Ltd, Genoa
Interiors, Tokyo, Japan
Azienda Agricola Bellaria, Avellino
Residencies and Fellowships
2022 PassaggiAtina, Atina, Italy
2019 PassaggiAtina residency, Atina, Italy
2017 Fellow Clark Hulings Fund for Visual Artists
2016 CAMAC, Marnay-Sur-Seine, France (Fondation Ténot grant)
2015 Vermont Studio Center (merit scholarship)
2013 The League at Vyt, Sparkill, New York (merit scholarship)
Bibliography
2014 Barry, Judith. "Lesley University College of Art and Design Graduate Exhibition Catalog,"
Lesley University, Boston, MA.
2016 Stefano Crippa "Le Stanze". catalog (Milan)
2017 "Living Language" Interview with Kim Catley, St. Catherine's Now, Summer 17, Vol. 75 No.2
Crippa, Stefano "Recent Work Mary Crenshaw"
2019 Smyth, Cherry “What the soul has heard tell of: new paintings by Mary Crenshaw” exhibition brochure
2020 Emma Roper-Evans, "In Spotlight, Collage Covid-Mary Crenshaw", The Sunday Tribune, July 12
2021 Lisa Kellner, "Five Questions", artist interview at lisakellner.com