Mary Obering

Fifty years of Mary Obering’s deft blend of Old Master techniques and Minimalist principles

A historical overview of New York–based painter Mary Obering (born 1937) from 1972 to 2012, this volume explores the artist’s geometric abstraction that draws on Renaissance techniques. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1937, Obering studied experimental psychology at Hollins College and Harvard University before pursuing an MFA at the University of Denver. The artist moved to SoHo in the early 1970s, where she was quickly included in exhibitions such as a 1973 Carl Andre–curated exhibition at Artists Space and the second ever Whitney Biennial in 1975. This publication celebrates nearly a half century of the artist’s career, featuring the distinct series within her oeuvre. It highlights developments in Obering’s practice with materials, methods and inspirations ranging from Italian Old Masters to her studies of science. Mary Obering includes essays from curator Lynn Zelevansky and writer Matthew Levy, as well as installation documentation and photography of the artist’s studio.