Artist Studio
The Other Art Cities Detroit Spotlight: Mary Rousseaux
The Other Art Fair is proud to present The Other Art Cities Detroit Spotlight. A new feature showcasing some of the best emerging talent from around the world. First stop Detroit!
Mary Rousseaux is a Detroit based abstract painter. We asked her about her work, being an artist in Detroit and how her practice has evolved over the last six months.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your practice?
I have been working in the studio for over 20 years. My work reflects my life, always exploring and shifting, seeking.
What are you inspired by at the moment?
After teaching for nearly two decades I left the University and became a flight attendant. Every day is an opportunity for adventure. I interact with strangers who share their stories, it’s immediately intimate. Planes and airports are full of people moving together but individual. I watch and create stories in my head about them. They have become the inspiration for my work. The work has become figurative. The figures are placed in ambiguous settings allowing the viewer to create their own narratives, this reflects my own musings.
What are some of the best things about art in Detroit/ being an artist in Detroit?
The best thing about working in Detroit is the community. People are open and always willing to open their doors and their hearts to share their histories and knowledge.
“Every day is an opportunity for adventure. I interact with strangers who share their stories, it’s immediately intimate.”
How has your practice shifted over the last 6 months?
After teaching for so many years and becoming a flight attendant facing the challenges and the isolation of the pandemic my work has stepped away from the abstract to focus on a more figurative narration. I am finding a new voice. One that gives space to the “new normal”. One that gives space for reflection. A place to see each individual as separate but also understanding that we are all connected and traveling through this new landscape together.
Shop artwork by Mary and other trailblazing artists at The Other Art Fair’s Online Studios.
