Mary Vaccaro - Trinity

Mary Vaccaro

Mary Vaccaro is currently creating a series of paintings that document the rapidly changing landscape of the West Village. These paintings, each consisting of two or three hinged panels, have biblical and mythological sub-themes and are intended to be viewed as modern altarpieces. In her work, Vaccaro is seeking the place where abstraction and reality intertwine. The paintings seek to portray the feeling of existence with its many layers, superficial and deep, from the basic observable level to the subliminal and emotional language of mythic and cultural symbolism. Her inspiration is found in Dutch prints - landscapes created around biblical narratives; literature, including Finnegans Wake; and Medieval books of hours, with their obsessive attention to detail contrasting with forced, unnaturalistic perspectives. As a "street painter," Vaccaro finds her interactions with passers-by greatly amplify the painting experience, adding further dimension to her work. Mary Vaccaro was born in New York City and earned a BFA from Cooper Union in the East Village.