Mary Rappazzo      

Mary A. Rappazzo is a Los Angeles-based fine arts painter. She began painting at age 10, with the encouragement of her grandmother, who taught her to paint flowers, old barns and landscapes. She discovered her recognizable, one-eyed signature style in her early twenties, which she expresses in bold statements using bright colors, figurative and representational themes.

“People often ask what inspires the content in my paintings.”  Rappazzo states.  “I choose to leave my personal inspiration for my paintings as a mystery to the viewer. I encourage the viewer to let their mind go, to project their emotions and thoughts onto the piece without inhibiting or censoring. Because my figurative shapes lack emotional definition, the experience of filling in those voids rests with the viewers: The emotions and thoughts that you see in the painting are your own. Perhaps you are reliving your own life experiences, or perhaps you are imagining how you might feel if you were there.”

“I choose provocative themes from everyday life: personal and emotional issues, social injustice, political policies, and people in the public eye. Acrylic and oil on canvas or masonite are my typical mediums, frequently using composition from black-and-white photographs as the initial model and inspiration. Painting colorful art, capturing daily experiences, and creating the mystery are exciting passion for me.”

Mary has won awards nationally and has been featured in several publications.