Mary Finlayson

Shelf with Books and Pink Poppies by Finlayson, Gouache/Canvas, Floral, Patterns

2025

Mary Finlayson’s interest in painting interior spaces portrays how environments reveal identity. Navigating the themes of intimacy, memory, and self, Finlayson’s gouache paintings reflect the vulnerable narratives unveiled through ownership of possessions. Flattening the perspective of each scene, her still lifes provide a voyeuristic glimpse in to each curated space. Considering the personal attachments and importance of objects, her compositions skew and distort to capture the feeling of a space rather than an accurate depiction. Rendered with vivid color and an emphasis on texture, Finlayson creates spaces that are partly real and partly imagined. Mary Finlayson lives and works in San Francisco as an artist, teacher, and art therapist. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Queen's University, a Graduate Degree in Art Therapy from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute, and an Arts Education Degree from the University of British Columbia.