Truth Isn't Always Black & White

 "Paint is the way music comes out my horn." - Lynn Mara This quote came about when an interviewer asked me to fill in the blank: "paint is...." 

Lynn Mara is a prolific painter who captures the American spirit through her works. Her multifaceted tableaus preserve American culture with modern flair.Whether she's painting Pop portraits, the American Flag, horses, sports or abstract landscapes, she executes each with panache and purpose. However, it is Pop Art  that has been her most successful platform for expressing positivity, hope, and encouragement in an increasingly secular, dark, and self centered world. These themes are most important to her and were the subject of a Scripture study course she engaged in for fourteen years. Her faith informs everything she does. No wonder, her paintings are like a light in the darkness. 

Born and raised on Long Island's East End, in Southampton, Mara was exposed to art when she was very young through local instructor Jane Doescher, neighbor toone of Mara's idols, Fairfield Porter. It was during this time that she sold her first painting for $40, from her family's flower stand, at the age of about twelve. She knew from the beginning that art would be a lifelong career. Later, in her thirties, she befriended Southampton artist Jack Riggio who was very influential in the development of her style. She credits him for her love of Pop Art, bright colors and experimenting with many mediums. An avid photographer, Mara uses her photos as source material for her paintings.Favorite mediums include acrylic paint, oil pastels, spray paint, house paint and glazes, resin application, collaging, monotype printing, and, during Covid, she taught herself how to silkscreen. 

Mara earned her BA from Marymount College, Va. in 1982. Since then: Mara's artworks are featured in prominent public places such as the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, East Rutherford NJ, The Legacy Club in MetLife Stadium, NJNext Level Private Wealth Management, White Plains, NY, Bank Street Group, Stamford Ct. In 2021 Mara was featured on FOX NEWS for her creation of portraits honoring the thirteen souls lost on August 26, 2021 at the Abbey Gate, Afghanistan.Restaurant Commissions include: Rafele, Rye NY, Bianca, Greenwich Ct., Three Village Inn, Stonybrook NY, Plaza Cafe, Southampton NY.She has had solo shows at the Westchester Children's Museum, Rye NY (2018) Union League Club, NYC, Lois Richards Gallery, Greenwich Ct., Genesis Gallery, Stamford Ct., 4 North Main Gallery, Southampton NY, Terence Joyce Gallery, Greenport NY, Paumanok Vineyard, Aquebogue NY, Deshuk Gallery, Bridgehampton NY, Collaborated with the Super Bowl XLVIII Host Committee to create a limited edition.Winner of the 40th Anniversary Hampton Jitney, "design a bus" contest. 2017 Winner of the 2017 Hampton Classic Poster Contest.

Other favorite artists and influences include Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Helen Cantrell and Richard Diebenkorn. Mara and her husband live in Greenwich Ct. They have 4 sons and a granddaughter.