Mary Powers Holt’s landscapes depart from a straightforward description of reality into the realm of abstraction through her fascination with natural patterns and expressive brushstrokes. However, it is clear that her inspiration is deeply rooted in her surroundings and her sense of place within them. Her paintings are a nice compliment to the rural setting of the gallery and its view overlooking the river.
Mary Powers Holt is inspired by landscape and abstraction. Her paintings are about a solitary discovery of place and the unconscious forms generated from experience. An emotional undercurrent can be found throughout the imagery and use of paint.
Mary Powers Holt was born in Philadelphia and has lived and worked in the area all of her life. She studied painting, drawing, and sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), and Art History at the University of Pennsylvania through a coordinated B.F.A./Certificate program. Holt’s work has been exhibited widely on the east coast, including at the PAFA Alumni Gallery in Philadelphia, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts and the Project Space Gallery in Delaware, the Jeffrey Leder Gallery in Long Island City, NY, and the Maryland Federation of Art. In addition, her work is a part of many private collections.
