Mary Hambleton





Painting
2000s
1990s
1980s

Paper
2000s


Image / Word


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About

Bio

Mary Hambleton (1952–2009, Baltimore) was an American painter based in NYC. Hambleton’s long-standing interest in scientific investigations, from astronomy to biology, was expressed through the language of painterly abstraction over her lifetime and had resonance with painters as varied as Piero Della Francesco, Agnes Martin, and Alfred Jensen. Curator Tiffany Bell has described Hambleton’s work as being “about the wonder of life and its many contradictions”, saying that “she embraced nature, rendering forms that could be either microscopic views of the smallest things or macroscopic vistas into the heavens.” In her later work, Hambleton slowly began to include images of extinct species of birds, arcane scientific mythologies, and then, later, medical scans of her body, which she layered and integrated in concert with her sense of color, light, and abstraction. Her many honors include the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial, Adolph Esther Gottlieb Foundation, and two Pollock-Krasner awards. Hambleton’s work has been exhibited in the US and abroad at venues including Leslie Heller Gallery, Littlejohn Contemporary, and Pamela Auchincloss Gallery (New York), Baltimore Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and the Machida City Museum (Tokyo). Her paintings are in many private and public collections including The Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Ringling Musem of Art (Sarasota), and the Ballinglen Museum of Contemporary Art (Ireland).

Artist Statment

I am interested in painting as a means of surviving the world. I love color, pattern and the materiality of paint. My paintings are experiential and layered. Veering in palette from deep blacks and whites to intense color. The paint references themes of growth, rejuvenation, cell division, and the cosmos, technology and Nature. There are subtle images of the body and its parts, particles and waves - the stuff of all matter. Scale shifts: from micro to macro, from cellular to cosmic, paint continues around all edges, all surfaces -touched with pattern and color. I work with paint - oils, alkyd, and polymer on wood panels and paper to digital prints with gouache. 

For many years I have been concerned with survival and extinction. Concerns of our fragile world have filled my mind and informed my paintings. When I was diagnosed in 2002 with cancer, it brought these concerns closer to home. Since that time images have entered my "abstract" work. Images of extinct birds such as the Dodo to the Ivory billed Woodpecker (hopefully still here) and more recently my own PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans have found there way into my work.

I find myself forever juggling, balancing different parts of my life. My paintings are often meditative, yet I like to play. I am a maximal minimalist. I play with abstract formalism, with sudden shifts in treatment, color, and texture, even extensions into sculpture. I entertain contradictions. Some of these juxtapositions exude a sense of humor, a playful attitude. But humor and playfulness can give way to deeper sensations - to the underside of dissolution and isolation.

We each live multiple realities. Our inner lives exist at times, quite separately from our external life. Survival often depends on this ability to separate and then connect disparate worlds, edge to edge. There is in this edge something that intrigues me: The line that defines and separates our different selves, a geometry that holds the connections of form, space, time, and sensation.

These paintings are finally meditations on our uncertain existence. Reflecting on the complexities of our lives. My paintings strive to give a sense of how we can exist in our world. I want them to be beautiful, to give a sense of wonder, of hope - to entertain the minds eye. 

— Mary Hambleton 2008

CV

GRANTS AND AWARDS2008Pollock - Krasner Foundation Grant
2007Guggenheim Fellowship
Ballinglen Fellowship Residency, Ballycastle, Ireland2006Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant
Parsons School Of Fine Arts, Faculty Development Leave
2003Pollock - Krasner Foundation Grant2002Edwin Palmer Memorial Prize, National Academy of Design, NYC1998Rhode Island School Of Design, Faculty Grant
New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship - NYFASOLO EXHIBITIONS2015Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design, U of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI2009Purdue University Gallery, Purdue, IN2008Lesley Heller Gallery, New York, NY (project room)2007Victoria Munroe Fine Art, Boston, MA
Lesley Heller Gallery, New York, NY2005Don Soker Gallery, San Francisco, CA2004Littlejohn Contemporary, New York, NY2003Gallery 817, University of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA2002Littlejohn Contemporary, New York, NY
2001Rosefsky Gallery, University of Binghamton, New York, NY1999Randolph Macon College, Ashland, VA1995Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, NY1994Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, NY1993Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, NY1992Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, NY1991Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, catalogue produced, New York, NY1990Knoedler Gallery, London, England1989Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, NY
Galerie Sigma, Bregenz and Vienna, Austria1988Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, catalogue produced, New York, NYSELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS2023


2022 “How Do We Know the World”, (recent acquisitions) Baltimore Museum of Art
“New Acquisitions“ Ballinglen International Museum of Art, , Ballycastle, Ireland

On Certainty: Gifts from the Collection of Suzanne F. Cohen, Baltimore Museum of Art 2017“Citings, Sightings”, Lennon Weinburg, Inc., NY, NY2015“A Riveder Le Stelle”,  Mary Hambleton and Sara MacLean, Typology Projects, curated by Heather Nicol, Toronto, Canada2008Regarding Global Warming, Bard College, Annandale 0n Hudson, NY
Peace, Sideshow Galley, Brooklyn, NY
2007ZOOM +/-“ Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Santa Monica, Ca
“Radius”, Metaphor Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“Selections from The Kentler Flat File Variations in Black and White”, 
Brooklyn Academy of  Music Brooklyn, NY
“War is Over, again”, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Selections 2006/07,” Art Bar Project, Ithaca NY
2006“Convergence,” catalogue produced, Tolbooth Art Centre, Kirkudbright, Scotland
Don Soker Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Pierogi  “Flat File”, Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Traveling Files (since 2000)
2005“Obsession,” Center For International Contemporary Art (CIAC), Pont-Aven France   
Don Soker Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2004“Multitasking,” The Islip Museum, NY 
“Women,” Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, New York, NY
“100 Drawings,” Kentler International, Redhook Brooklyn, NY
“To Die For,” Hiedi Cho Gallery, New York, NY
2003“Thinking in Line,” Survey of Contemporary American Drawings, University Galleries, University of  Florida, Gainesville, FL
 “Worlds Apart”Axel-Raben Gallery, New York, NY 
 “Litchfield Hills Collects,” University Of Hartford, Jose Loff Gallery, Hartford, CT
 “Resonance,” Workspace, New York, NY  
 “Drawings,” Metaphor Gallery, DUMBO, New York, NY
2002”The 177th Annual,” National Academy of Design, New York, NY 
“Touch,” Metaphor Gallery, DUMBO, New York, NY
“Made in Brooklyn”, Curated by Chris Martin & Nellie Appleby, Kentler International   Drawing  Space, Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY
“Just Drawing,” University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2001“Finely Drawn,” Weatherspoon Art Gallery, U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 
“21st Suffragettes,” Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, NY 
“Milestones For Peace,” The International Artist’s Museum, Tel Aviv
2000“Unusual Suspects,” Brenda Taylor Gallery, New York, NY1999Crest Hardware Show, Curated by Gene Pool, Williamsburg, VA
“Mind’s Eye,” Boothe Gallery, Warwick, RI
“Peripheral Vision,” catalogue produced, The Painting Center, New York, NY
“Reflections,” RISD Museum, Providence, RI
1998”Pay Per It,” Sideshow Gallery, Williamsburg, NY1997“William Zimmer Collection,” The Reading Museum, Reading, PA
“Faculty Biennial,” The RISD Museum, Providence, RI 
”Intimate Universe,” James Howe Fine Arts Gallery, Kean University, Union, NJ
“Generations” Twenty-fifth Anniversary Show, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY
“The Exchange Show,” Robert Gilson Fine Arts, New York, NY
“Intimate Universe (Revisited),” Curated by Michael Walls Robert Steele Gallery, New    York, NY
Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
“Place” with Suzanne Boccanegra, Sharon Horvath, Robin Hill Manderville Gallery, Union College, Schenectady, NY1996“Beyond Nature,” D.C. Moore Gallery, New York, NY
“(Ap)praising Abstraction,” Art Initiatives, New York, NY 
“Small Prints,” University of West England, Bristol, England
“Small Prints,” Parsons School of Design, New York, NY 
“Place,” E.S. Vandam, New York, NY
1995“The Small Painting,” O'Hara Gallery, New York, NY 
 “Accumulation,” The Workspace, New York, NY
1994“East/West,” curated by Saul Ostrow, E.S. Vandam Gallery, New York, NY 
“Interior Essence,” Akus Gallery, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT 
“Embraceable You,” catalogue produced, Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL
1993“American and European Prints - Silkscreen and Monotype,” catalogue produced, Machida City Museum, Tokyo, Japan
“Intimate Universe,” Nina Freudenheim Gallery, Buffalo, NY
1992“A New American Flag,” Max Protech Gallery, New York, NY 
“Contemporary Surfaces,” curated by Rick Ward, Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, NY, NY
“Intimate Universe,” Michael Walls Gallery, New York, NY 
1991“Collaborations: Monotypes from the Garner Tullis Workshop,” Sert Gallery, Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, Harvard University, MA1990“Inner Natures,” Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA1989“The Feminine Touch,” Thomas Fine Arts, Pasadena, CA 
“Monotypes,” Schmidt Dean Gallery, Philadelphia, PA 
“Inaugural Exhibition,” Galerie Sigma, Gregenz, Austria 
“Gallery Artists,” Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, NY 
“Monoprints,” Persons/Lindell Gallery, Helsinki, Finland 
“Collaborations: Monotypes from the Garner Tullis Workshop,” The United States Department of State, Washington, D.C., four year international traveling exhibition
1988Benefit Art Auction for the Children's Museum, Frank Bernaducci Gallery, New York, NY
“Invitational Group Exhibition Show,” Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL
1987“Nature into Form,” Oscarsson/Siegeltuch, New York, NY 
“Invitational,” A.I.R Gallery, New York, NY
“Benefit,” Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, NJ
1986“Invitational,” A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY 
“24 x 24,” Ruth Siegal Gallery, New York, NY
“6th Annual,” John Davis Gallery, Akron, OH 
“Consensus,” EXIT Art, New York, NY 
“Studio Camnitzer, Selected Works,” Visual Arts Gallery, State University of New York, 
Purchase, NY
“Mary Hambleton and Phyllis Ideal,” Cava Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1985“5th Annual,” John Davis Gallery, Akron, OH
“Invitational,” curated by Tiffany Bell, Condeso/Lawler Gallery, New York, NY 
“Sentient Visions,” curated by Ronnie Cohen Art Awareness, Lexington, NY
“The Non-Objective World,” curated by Stephen Westfall, Kamekazi, New York, NY 
“Surplus Show” EXIT Art, New York, NY
“Have a Heart,” (Benefit for Ethiopia), Akron Art Museum, Akron, OH

1983Charles Merrill Hall, New York University, New York
“Invitational,” A.I.R. Gallery, New York, NY 
“4th Annual,” John Davis Gallery, Akron, OH
“Group Show (Five Painters),” Susan Montezinos Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
“Drawing with Respect to Painting,” curated by David Reed, New York Studio 
School, NY
“Small Works, New Abstract Paintings,” catalogue produced, Muelenberg College,   Allentown, PA 
“Small Works, New Abstract Paintings,” Lafeyette College, Easton, PA 
“Installations,” Directions on Broadway, New York, NY
“Artist's Call,” Art Galaxy, New York, NY 
1983“Science and Prophecy,” catalogue produced, White Columns, New York, NY 
“3rd Annual,” John Davis Gallery, Akron, OH
1981“Dealer's Choice,” Webb and Parsons Gallery, New Canaan, CT 
“Heresies Show,” Grey Art Gallery, New York University, NY
BIBLIOGRAPHY Amy Eshoo and Elizabeth Finch, 
560 Broadway: A New York Drawing Collection at Work.
1991-2006, Yale University Press, 2008
Cynthia Maris Dantzic, 100 New York Painters, Schiffer Publishing, 2006.
Raphael Meyer Rubenstein, “Nothing By Mouth,” review, Art in America, 2004.
Brooklyn Rail, review, 2004.
National Academy of Design 177th Annual, exhibition catalogue, New York City, 2002.
Art Papers, review, Sept. 2000.
J. Boyer Bell, “Unusual Suspects,” Jan 2000.
Sister Wendy Beckett, “Realm of Bliss,” Sister Wendy’s Book of Meditations, D.K. Publishing, 1998. 
George Melrod, Arts and Antiques, April 1995.
Saul Ostrow, “Empty Space In The Void,” essay for EAST/WEST, E.S., 1994.
Vandam  Gallery, New York, NY, 1994
Francis Colpitt, Embraceable You, exhibition catalogue, Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art and Design, 1993.
American & European Prints Silkscreen and Monotypes, exhibition catalogue, Machida City Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 1993.
Ronny Cohen, review, Artforum, September 1991, p. 136, illus.
Bill Zimmer, Mary Hambleton, exhibition catalogue, Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, 1991.
Josef Woodward, "The Shape of Spirit," Artweek, January 24, 1991, pp. 15-16.
Nancy Doll, Inner Natures, exhibition catalogue, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 
November 23,1990 – February 10, 1991.
David Carrier, “Abstract Working Space,” Art International, Spring 1990, p. 70.
Joan Crowder, "Nature as a Metaphor for Growth," Santa Barbara News Press, December 28, 1990, p. 19.
Dan Rubey, Artnews, review, March 1990, p. 79, illus.
Dina Sorenson, Arts, review, February 1990, p. 79, illus.
Mary Hambleton, exhibition catalogue, Pamela Auchincloss Gallery, New York, 1988.
Tiffany Bell, review, Art in America, Vol. 76, no. 5, 1988. 
Ronny Cohen, review, Artforum, April 1988, p. 149, illus.
Ellen Handy, review, Arts, vol. 62, No. 8, April 1988, p. 107.
Jude Schwendenwein, ARTnews, review, vol. 87, no. 4, April 1988, p.145, illus.
David McCracken, "New York Artists Have the Abstract Edge," Chicago Tribune, July 8, 1988, Sec. 7, p. 55.
Ronny Cohen, "New Abstraction," Print Collectors Newsletter, vol. XVIII, March/April 1987, pp. 9-14.
Victoria Donohue, "Mary Hambleton and Phyllis Ideal," The Philadelphia Enquirer, February 22, 1986, p. 3-C.
Liam Nelson, "Art Awareness," review, Woodstock Times, June 13, 1985, p.32.
Vivian Raynor, "Mystery Show," review, The New York Times, June 2, 1985.
Eileen Watkins, "Mystery Show," review, The Sunday Star Ledger, New Jersey, June 26, 1985.
Eileen Watkins, The Jersey Journal, New Jersey, May 24, 1985.
Barbara Zabel and William Zimmer, “Can Small Works Carry It Off?”, Small Works: New Abstract Painting, 
exhibition catalogue, 1984.
Michael Brenson, “Drawing with Respect to Painting,” review, The New York Times, March 19, 1984.
Robert McDonald, review, Artweek, vol. 8, no. 26, July 30, 1977, p. 8.
Fred Martin, Artweek, June 30, 1977.SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 
The Baltimore Museum of Art
The Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, FL
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass
The New York Public Library, New York, NY
The Reading Museum, Reading, PA
Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
The United States Department Of State, Washington DC
University of Kentucky Art Museum, Lexington, KY
The Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina, NC
And others: 
The McCrory Collection, NYC
Amerada Hess Corp.
Prudential
I.B.M.
Reader’s Digest
Lila Twigg-Smith estate
JMB Realty Corp, Chicago
Esther Grether, Switzerland
Agnes Gund, NYC 
John Kasmin, London
Werner H. Kramarsky, NYC
and numerous other private and corporate collections
EDUCATION1985Studio Camnitzer,  Valdottavo, Italy1976San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco California, BFATEACHING1991-2008Parsons School of Design, New York, NY, Fine Arts Department2006Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO2005Pont Aven School of Art, Pont Aven, Brittany, France, Painting Facult2004Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY, Painting Faculty2001-2002Parson’s School of Design, NYC, Fine Arts, Coordinator Fine Arts Lecture Series
1996-2000Rhode Island School of Design, Painting Department Faculty1988-199192nd Street YMHA, NYC. Fine Arts Program, Painting & Drawing FacultVISITING ARTIST/ LECTURER2008The University Of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (graduate)2007The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston MA (graduate)
Haverford College, PA
Boston University, Boston, MA  (graduate
2005University Of California, Davis, CA (graduate)2004University Of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA2001University Of Binghamton, Binghamton, NY, Visiting Lecturer
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ,  (graduate)2000American University, Washington DC, Graduate Program (graduate)1999Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, Graduate Lecture Serie1997Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY (graduate)
New York Studio Program, New York, NY
1995-1996Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY1994Bard College, The Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts, 
Annandale-on Hudson, NY1993Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY (graduate)
Parsons School of Design, New York, NY, Graduate Painting
Maryland Institute, Baltimore, MD, Graduate Paintin1992Provincetown Fine Art Center, Provincetown, MA1991Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Parsons School of Design, New York, NY1990Barnard College, New York City, NY1989Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Copyright Mary Hambleton 2025