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MARY NEELY

MY ARTIST STATEMENT

I've been taking photographs nearly my entire life, starting as a child. Almost everywhere I look I see beauty in light, shape, and texture, and want to share it with others through my photos. I am currently working mostly with color, but also enjoy black and white photography. My influences include Henri Cartier-Bresson, whose philosophy of “The Moment” has made a great impression, Man Ray, and Annie Leibovitz. I am tremendously grateful to the late artist Skip Wiese, who provided guidance and encouragement.

I have exhibited in Lake County, Illinois in the Green Belt Gallery; Waukegan’s Art Wauks, Art Windows, Wine Strolls and Ray Bradbury Dandelion Wine Art Festivals; the Gallery on Genesee, Jack Benny Center for the Arts; Lake Surf Designs; Warren Township Library; the Lake County Courthouse; the Prospect Heights Library,

North Shore Art League Gallery, and the Lake County Fine Arts Gallery, among many other venues.

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In addition, I currently have works in the Dandelion Gallery and Tufo Gallery, and have exhibited in the Robert Wright Gallery, Urban Edge, A.I.R. in Glencoe, Art Center Highland Park, the Evanston Biennial, Iron Gallery in Chicago, the Merchandise Mart, Scharpenberg Gallery, Edgewater Art Center, Blue Moon Gallery, and several outdoor festivals. I have also exhibited in Madisonand Kenosha Wisconsin, and have pieces in private collections in New York, Chicago, Santa Fe, Kansas, Michigan, and Florida.

I’ve made presentations on representational and abstract photography to the Lake County Art League and to the Art Institute of Chicago Community Associates, and taught short artistic photography courses for the Waukegan Park District. I’ve judged several shows, including Art Fair on the Square in Lake Forest and student scholarship competitions at the College of Lake County.

I live in Waukegan, which has a vibrant arts community, a beautiful harbor and lakefront, and is the source of much inspiration for me.