Communicating Powerful Messages
Mary Lou Dauray, maryloudauray.com, lives in Sausalito, California and creates art with a purpose. She states, “The majority of my paintings created these past few years reveal a deep concern about human caused climate destruction. I am profoundly alarmed about global warming contributing to massive displacement of people; social injustices; food scarcity; forest fires around the world; rising ocean waters; radioactive pollution, and more.”
All rights reserved. Do not reproduce images without the artist’s permission.
Glorious, acrylic on wood panel, 16″ x 16″
Mary Lou’s work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. including at the Virginia Art Museum in Richmond, Virginia; the Blue Planet juried show; Runnymede Corporate Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia; University of Southern California Institute for Genetic Medicine Art Gallery; as well as having some artwork at the London Olympics. She has exhibited in a juried show at Gallery 1 in Point Reyes, California.
In April 2021, a painting was chosen as a winner in the Contemporary Art Gallery Cityscape Art Theme online show. In May, 2021 one of her “Iceberg” paintings was accepted into a juried show at the O’Hanlon Gallery in Mill Valley, California.
Resilient Always, acrylic, 12″ x 16″
Her art has been featured in many publications. One Earth journal featured one of Mary Lou’s paintings “Burning Coal Train”, from her “Coal Series”, for the cover of its November 19, 2021 issue.
Mary Lou’s work about nuclear power was featured at the 2020 annual Ploughshares Fund Gala, an organization highlighting the need to prevent the use and spread of nuclear weapons.
Mary Lou won a Special Achievement Second Place Cash Award from Manhattan Arts International in its “HerStory” juried exhibition. She also received an Award of Excellence from Manhattan Arts International for her “Burning Coal Car”.
Hovering, mixed media, 18″ x 12″
She has been curated into juried exhibitions sponsored by Manhattan Arts International titled “Celebrate the Healing Power of Art”, “Art That Lifts Our Spirits”, and its “Hot Topics – Bold Expressions” exhibition for which she received an Award of Merit.
Mary Lou states, “As we all know, March 2020 will go down in history as a removal from “normal” living. As soon as the shelter-in -place law took effect, I fashioned an 8’ x 8’ sunroom into a studio and immediately found solace and purpose by creating paintings almost every day.”
She exudes, “I thankfully mentally left my little studio just by putting brush to canvas depicting some of our most beautiful land. Lately, my painting has veered more into the abstract and non-objective realm. While I enjoy painting semi-realistic works, creating these abstractions presents an enormous challenge. I paint on paper, canvas and wood panels and use a variety of oil and water-based pigments.”
Response, acrylic, 12″ x 16″
In addition to environmental subjects and abstract paintings, Mary Lou has also created paintings that celebrate the majestic power and beauty of the natural world. Prior to the Pandemic, she traveled to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, the area where Georgia O’Keeffe lived and painted. During these visits she produced many exquisite watercolor paintings.
Mary Lou has organized a painting week in New Mexico, which she describes as “a restorative and creative experience for all.” Participants primarily painted and they also enjoyed hiking, meditating, taking photographs and writing.
Unseen, acrylic, 24″ x 24″
Another one of Mary Lou’s passions is the advancement of women artists and women’s rights. As a board member of the Leonard and Sophie Davis fund, a private family foundation, she was instrumental in creating the RAW (Recognizing the Art of Women) Series at the Norton Museum in West Palm Beach, Florida.
She has also taught master classes at the Dreyfoos Art School in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Mary Lou is also a member of The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, an initiative of Manhattan Arts International that believes that art serves as a catalyst for healing individuals, society and the environment. It showcases art for positive change. She has also written several articles for that website, primarily about environmental art.
Banner: Mary Lou Dauray, detail of Red, acrylic, 10.667″ x 3.987″
Visit Mary Lou Dauray’s website maryloudauray.com
Join Mary Lou Dauray on Social Media
Instgram: mld.artist
Twitter: maryloudauray
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Laura Hunt says
Mary Lou’s work is very inspiring!
Mary Lou Dauray says
Thank you Laura!!
Sandra Belitza-Vazquez says
Very beautiful work. Bryce Canyon tree is stunning! Congratulations.
Mary Lou Dauray says
Thank you Sandra!!! I appreciate your comment!
Mary Lou Dauray says
Thank you so much Sandra!
Lou says
Amazing artworks! 💚
Mary Lou Dauray says
Thank you Lou!
Hariclia michailidou says
Very beautiful work, thank you
Mary Lou Dauray says
Thank you Hariclia!