After decades of painting the golden hills, redwoods, fir and pine of Sonoma County, California, I was ready to find some new motifs. A visit to New Mexico in the late 1980s offered everything I was looking for, and I returned every year, finally moving here with the new millennium. I find the high-desert landscape endlessly fascinating. The great configurations of mountains, arroyos, mesas, ravines and compacted vegetation against the azure sky are powerful, and I have drawn strength from them.

Composition and color are the most important aspects of my paintings. I have hundreds of pastel sticks in my studio, and just the colors alone are enough to get me started on a painting. I draw upon the shades and tones of nature, but I like to exaggerate them, dramatizing the emotional exuberance that the landscape conveys to me. Pastels are especially responsive, they allow me to work quickly on black paper, moving from darks to lights as I go.

Although representational, my paintings are grounded in the abstract elements of art. Values, textures, scale, line, positive and negative shapes, unity and variety are critical to the success of my paintings. I particularly enjoy using shadows and highlights to create interesting patterns on both the two-dimensional surface of the painting, as well as in the illusion of spatial recession.

I don't consider myself a sentimental person, and yet to convey the landscape to others, I must inject into the colors and designs my feelings and my response to what I see. That takes the image beyond decoration or a mere "reproduction" of an object or landscape and turns it into an idea that flows from the brain and the heart. ---Mary Silverwood

BORN 1932 - Bryan, TX

RAISED - Washington, DC, and Fort Worth, TX

EDUCATION

University of Texas, Austin, TX, Bachelor of Fine Arts

Sonoma State University, CA, and University of Texas, Austin, TX, post graduate studies in teaching, Teaching Certificate 1967

HONORS

Selected by the editors as the cover for The Pastel Journal 2009 Calendar

Selected to participate in the Art in the Embassies 2007 Landscapes of the American West Exhibition

Selected by the editors as the featured artist for the 2005 Enchanting New Mexico calendar published by New Mexico Magazine

Four paintings purchased by the State of New Mexico, Art in Public Places, 2004 Acclaimed Artists’ Series

Artist of the Year, Sonoma State University, CA, including cover art for class catalogs, 1995

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

Miniatures and More, The Albuquerque Museum, 2010, 2004, 2003, 2002

So Q, Contemporary Art in Southern NM, Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe, 2004

Originals, Traces of the Journey, sponsored by New Mexico Chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Albuquerque Museum, 2003

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2011   Desert Shadows, Ventana Fine Art, Santa Fe

2010   One Woman Show, Ventana El Centro, Santa Fe

2009   One Woman Show, Ventana El Centro, Santa Fe

2008   Colors in Contrast, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2007   Chaco Patterns, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2006   Shapes of Life, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2005   Keeping the Joy, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2004   How I Loved the Day, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2003   Land-Marks, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2002   Vibrant & Vital, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2001   Palette of an Enchanted Land, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2000   Celebrating the Landscape, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

1999   The Drama of Landscape, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

1998   Passion for Color, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

           Landscapes in Pastel, Jaggard Clancy Gallery, Healdsburg, CA

1997   Special Places, Joanne Chappell Gallery, San Francisco, CA

          Celebration of Color, Robins Hyder Gallery, Santa Fe

           New Works, Peachland Gallery, Sebastopol, CA

1996   Autumn Pastels, Robins Hyder Gallery, Santa Fe

           Pastels by Mary Silverwood, Paradise Ridge Winery, Santa Rosa, CA

1995   Images from Indian Country, Post Western Gallery, Santa Fe

1994   Mary Silverwood Pastels, Gallery Fair, Mendocino, CA

           Desert Landscapes from Indian Country, Post Western Gallery, Santa Fe

1993   Desert Landscapes, Matanzas Creek Winery, Santa Rosa, CA

           Landscape in Pastel, Ren Brown Collection, Bodega Bay, CA

           Desert Landscapes, Post Western Gallery, Santa Fe

1992   Pastels by Mary Silverwood, Corner Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

           Pueblo Shadows, Post Western Gallery, Santa Fe

1991   Pastels by Mary Silverwood, Corner Gallery, Palo Alto, CA

          Distant Vistas, Post Western Gallery, Santa Fe

1990   Visions of the West, Designers Showroom Petaluma, CA

1989   Mary Silverwood and her color, Matanzas Creek Winery, Santa Rosa, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2012 - 2023 Ongoing Representation and Group Shows, Ventana Fine Art, Santa Fe

2011   18 Days, Munoz Waxman Gallery, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM

2006   A Tribute to 10, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2005   At Home in the Sun, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2004   Salon, An Exhibition by Gallery Artists, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2003   Palette, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2002   Italia, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

2001   Small Works, Joyce Robins Gallery, Santa Fe

1998-2001   A Show with Heart, Joyce Robins Gallery Santa Fe

1994   Sonoma County Women’s Art Festival, CA

1990   Vision Sonoma, juried art exhibition, Burbank Center for the Arts, CA

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

State of New Mexico

US Congress First District Art Collection, Napa, CA

Humana Hospital Suburban, Louisville, KY

Kaiser Hospitals, Santa Rosa, CA

Kaiser hospitals, San Rafael, CA

FHP Inc., Salt Lake City, UT

F + W Publications, Inc., Cincinnati, OH

Paradise Ridge Winery, Santa Rosa, CA

Matanzas Winery, Santa Rosa, CA

Countless Private Collections

PUBLICATIONS

AUTHORED BOOKS

The Art of Seeing and Visual Expression, Bold Palette Press, Belen, 2004

BOOKS & CATALOGS

Landscapes of the American West, Art in Embassies Exhibition Catalog, U.S. Embassy, Belmopan, Belize, 2007

Landscapes of New Mexico by Suzan Campbell & Suzanne Deats, Fresco Fine Art Publications, Albuquerque, 2006

Originals, Traces of the Journey, Albuquerque Museum of Art, New Mexico Chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 2003

PERIODICALS

New Mexico Magazine, “Paintings of the Land of Enchantment,” Featured Artist, August 2010

New Mexico Business Weekly, Book of Business Lists 2010, Featured Artist, p 76

THE Magazine, “Critical Reflections: Contrast in Color” by Erin Smith, August 2008, p 81

Southwest Art, Best of the West, July 2008 pp 8, 22

Santa Fean, Artists and Exhibitions, June/July 2008, p 85

Southwest Art, Best of the West, July 2007, p 72

Santa Fean, Artists and Exhibitions, July 2007, p 59

Santa Fe/North , Opening Exhibits, July 20, 2007, p S4

Western Art Collector, “Colors in Contrast” by the Editor, June 2008, pp 132-135

The Pastel Journal, “The Thrill of Color” by Anne Hevener, May/June 2008, pp 44-49

Albuquerque Tribune, The Arts & Entertainment, editor T.B. Mobley-Martinez, Jan 25, 2007 C1

American Art Collector, “Destination Santa Fe,” June 2006, pp 174-175

Santa Fean, Artists & Exhibitions, September 2005, p 74

Valencia County News-Bulletin, “New Mexico’s color, shapes enchant Rio Communities artist” by Jane Moorman, December 29, 2004

Santa Fean, Artists & Exhibitions, October 2004

Santa Fe/North, Openings, October 8, 2004

Albuquerque Journal, Openings, October 2004

New Mexico Magazine, “Mary Silverwood’s Colorful Vision” by Gussie Fauntleroy, September 2004, pp 65-67

Albuquerque Tribune, Calendar, June 18, 2004

Southwest Art, “On the Waterfront” by Richard Mahler, October 2003, p 114

Santa Fe New Mexican Pasatiempo, “Mixed Media” by Paul Weideman, August 2003

Albuquerque Journal, “Possibilities” by Editors, August 2003, p 1

Santa Fean, Openings & Exhibitions, August 2003

Journal Santa Fe, “Veteran Artist Still as Vibrant as Her NM Landscapes” by Dottie Indyke, September 20, 2002

Crosswinds Weekly, “Septuagenarian Celebration” by Sharon Kayne, September 19-26, 2002

Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, “Colors of the Southwest” by Robert Nott, September 20, 2002

Southwest Art, Best of the West, September 2002, p 74

Santa Fean, Openings & Exhibitions, September 2002, p 72

Valencia County News-Bulletin, “Belen Artist Mary Silverwood’s paintings on display at Santa Fe Gallery this week” August 22-23, 2001, 2B

The Pastel Journal, Cover Article, “Mary Silverwood” by Ruth Summer, September/October 2001

Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, “A Bold Palette” by Robert Nott, August 10, 2001

Santa Fe/North, “Pastel Artist Can’t Picture Life without Road Trips” by Craig Sullivan, October 20, 2000

Valencia County News Bulletin, “California Artist Trades Sea Waves for Desertscapes” by Kathrine Saltzstein, October 18-19, 2000

Sonoma West Times and News, “Mary Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” by Gaye LeBaron, August 17, 2000

La Vida Arts & Leisure, “California Artist Trades Sea Waves for Desertscapes” by Katherine Saltzstein, October 18-19, 2000

Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, “Comings and Goings”, October 15-21, 1999, p 64

Santa Fean, Openings and Exhibitioins, May 1999

Southwest Art, “A Bold Palette” by Bonnie Gangelhoff, May 1999

Cultural Arts Council of Sonoma County, “In the Studio of Mary Silverwood”, June 26, 1999

Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, “Mary Silverwood Pastels were a Turning Point” by Craig Smith, October 16, 1998

The Press Democrate, cover story “Silverwood settles into serenity” by Meg McConahey, April 5, 1998

Santa Fe New Mexican, Pasatiempo, “Taking Delight in the Most Vivid, Vibrant Colors” by Gussie Fauntleroy, October 17, 1997

Santa Fean, Openings and Exhibitions, October 1997

Sonoma State University, Cover of Catalogue of Courses, 1996 – 1998

The Good Life, cover story, “Mary Silverwood: A study in blue pastel” by Richard Paul Hinkle, Supplement to the Business Journal, June 26, 1995

The Press Democrat, “Mary Silverwood’s Pastel World” by Dan Taylor, June 27, 1993

The Press Democrat, “Pastels the present, future for Silverwood” by Tim Fish June 27, 1993

Sonoma State University, Cover of Extended Education Catalogue, 1993

The Press Democrat, “Southwest beckons pastel artist” by Tim Fish, 1992, p 02

Sonoma State University, Cover of Extended Education Catalogue, 1991

North Bay Scene, “Gallery Folio”, June 1990 p 27

America’s Musical Landscape, 2nd edition, by Jean Ferris, Book cover, Brown and Benchmark Publishing, 1990

The Press Democrat, “Art for the Pastel of It”, October 7, 1989