Author Archives: Mary Ahern

Mary Ahern Artist

NEWS About Exhibitions, Events & Social Media Posts

I invite you into my world as an artist through intimate glimpses of studio life, exhibitions, preparations, and the creative process that fuels my work. My writing chronicles adventures, garden-inspired creations, and the evolution of my artistic vision.

Follow along on my blogs and social media where I regularly share my journey. My photography and videography offer visual narratives that complement my written reflections—capturing moments of beauty and inspiration that bring joy to everyday life.

Mary Ahern Artist Posted on by

Juried into this dynamic exhibition by Joshua Ruff, Co-Director of the Long Island Museum of Art, is my oil painting, Phantasm – Coral Peony.

“Phantasm – Coral Sunset Peony”, a 36×36″ oil painting, is a vivid celebration of life’s vibrant energy inspired by the peonies that enchant my garden. Imagine a dynamic dance of colors—pink, yellow, and orange petals that swirl with a captivating grace, all harmoniously converging towards a lively green center. The energy in the petals encircling the center of the flower also represents the feeling humans have when they are moved by emotions. This piece is about celebrating movement and color, capturing the very essence of a flower in full bloom. It invites you to step into a world where every brushstroke is infused with the joy and wonder of nature’s beauty. I hope it inspires a moment of reflection and connection to the natural vibrancy all around us.

Phantasm – Coral Sunset. 36×36″ Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas.

Mary Ahern Artist Posted on by

Imagination ’25 Exhibition at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James, NY

This is a very interesting show to see. Very unusual and perfect for the Halloween season.

My work was juried into this “Imagination” exhibition but the other work in this show is very, very different in style. There are many excellent and imaginative works for you to see. Give yourself a treat and go to see this fascinating show.

Mills Pond Gallery, 660 New York 25A, St James, NY. Gallery Open, Wed-Fri, 10-4pm. Sat & Sun, 12-4pm

Social Media

Mary Ahern Artist Posted on by

This is What I’ve Been Talking About on Instagram Recently

You can follow all my posts here or follow me on Instagram. I also post to BlueSky, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads and YouTube.

maryahern

1,309 1,103

My Art Starts in the Garden

Here I am, putting the finishing touches on my latest painting, Cosmic Iris. She`s a 36x36" oil on canvas. This painting was inspired by a gentle shade of coral iris I grow in my garden, named Beverly Sills. Why this painting decided it wanted to be loud and brash is beyond me. Maybe it`s because Beverly Sills was a famous opera singer. I think she would have appreciated this broad energy since she also projected that energy too.

19 2
Open post by maryahern with ID 17966663510969303
Here I am, putting the finishing touches on my latest painting, Cosmic Iris. She's a 36x36" oil on canvas. This painting was inspired by a gentle shade of coral iris I grow in my garden, named Beverly Sills. Why this painting decided it wanted to be loud and brash is beyond me. Maybe it's because Beverly Sills was a famous opera singer. I think she would have appreciated this broad energy since she also projected that energy too.

...

19 2

Did you ever notice how often you step just beyond where your body wants to be? That is what creeps up on me on hot summer days in the garden when I`m digging, pushing, pulling and totally enjoying myself. I get so engrossed with what I`m doing that I just push past the warning line. When does it happen to you and what do you do about it? Read my latest Substack article about this issue. https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/taking-responsibility

12 2
Open post by maryahern with ID 17922486987027350
Did you ever notice how often you step just beyond where your body wants to be? That is what creeps up on me on hot summer days in the garden when I'm digging, pushing, pulling and totally enjoying myself. I get so engrossed with what I'm doing that I just push past the warning line. When does it happen to you and what do you do about it? Read my latest Substack article about this issue. https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/taking-responsibility

...

12 2

The latest edition of my Connoisseurs Newsletter was sent out. It`s filled with glimpses into what`s new in my studio and what`s happening in the garden. Additionally, it announced two upcoming exhibitions and my latest articles, which were published on Substack. If you missed this newsletter, you can view it online. Link in Bio: https://mailchi.mp/ca51471b5df0/2025-10-03-maryahernartist-newsletter⁠

12 2
Open post by maryahern with ID 18297127987270495
The latest edition of my Connoisseurs Newsletter was sent out. It's filled with glimpses into what's new in my studio and what's happening in the garden. Additionally, it announced two upcoming exhibitions and my latest articles, which were published on Substack. If you missed this newsletter, you can view it online. Link in Bio: https://mailchi.mp/ca51471b5df0/2025-10-03-maryahernartist-newsletter⁠

...

12 2

Bugs for me were always icky. They made me jump away and scream when I was a kid. Probably because the boys loved to throw them at us just to get that reaction. Well, fast forward, and I still jump when a bug lands on me unexpectedly. It`s a pretty difficult situation to avoid when you`re a gardener. Read about how bugs changed everything in my art in my latest Substack article, "Why I Paint Big Flowers". ⁠
Link in Bio. https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/why-i-paint-big-flowers

2 1
Open post by maryahern with ID 18068087936258033
Bugs for me were always icky. They made me jump away and scream when I was a kid. Probably because the boys loved to throw them at us just to get that reaction. Well, fast forward, and I still jump when a bug lands on me unexpectedly. It's a pretty difficult situation to avoid when you're a gardener. Read about how bugs changed everything in my art in my latest Substack article, "Why I Paint Big Flowers". ⁠ Link in Bio. https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/why-i-paint-big-flowers

...

2 1

Today and for a few weeks (in our family, we call that our Birthday season) I`m celebrating turning 78. I celebrate since I have wisdom I`ve earned over time, strength I continue to build upon, generosity I can share since I am not poor in spirit, and kindness since I have received it in times when I was in most need. Age isn`t a number. Age is an attitude. At times I feel ageless. Others, not so much. But I`m proud of the effort I put into living my life fully. I don`t take any day for granted and have an abundance of gratitude that I`ve been able to stay healthy and this active. Happy Birthday to me!

55 20
Open post by maryahern with ID 18553049614024953
Today and for a few weeks (in our family, we call that our Birthday season) I'm celebrating turning 78. I celebrate since I have wisdom I've earned over time, strength I continue to build upon, generosity I can share since I am not poor in spirit, and kindness since I have received it in times when I was in most need. Age isn't a number. Age is an attitude. At times I feel ageless. Others, not so much. But I'm proud of the effort I put into living my life fully. I don't take any day for granted and have an abundance of gratitude that I've been able to stay healthy and this active. Happy Birthday to me!

...

55 20

Today was the opening of the Salmagundi show with my "Sunflowers With Makkum Pot - Homage to van Gogh". The show is on view through Oct. 3rd. Here is the official announcement: Opening today, step into an oasis of botanical beauty in our ground-floor Rockwell gallery. This year`s annual floral exhibition, in honor of major benefactor Sylvia Maria Glesmann, presents a stunning array of floral paintings; each a vibrant testament to nature`s colors and forms. View the artwork at: ⁠
https://salmagundi.org/2025-scny-glesmann-floral-exhibition/

9 2
Open post by maryahern with ID 17987258912850845
Today was the opening of the Salmagundi show with my "Sunflowers With Makkum Pot - Homage to van Gogh". The show is on view through Oct. 3rd. Here is the official announcement: Opening today, step into an oasis of botanical beauty in our ground-floor Rockwell gallery. This year's annual floral exhibition, in honor of major benefactor Sylvia Maria Glesmann, presents a stunning array of floral paintings; each a vibrant testament to nature's colors and forms. View the artwork at: ⁠ https://salmagundi.org/2025-scny-glesmann-floral-exhibition/

...

9 2

Recently, someone who came to my studio looked around at all the walls and asked whether I only ever paint flowers. The question stopped me in my tracks. It seemed like a judgment. That somehow, I was a limited artist who couldn’t paint anything else. I guess the word "only" made a difference to me. Every once in a while, I’ve heard this type of statement, but for some reason, this time it struck a chord with me. Perhaps it was because the person who asked it was also an artist. Read More on Substack: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/do-you-only-ever-paint-flowers

19 3
Open post by maryahern with ID 18353595325093692
Recently, someone who came to my studio looked around at all the walls and asked whether I only ever paint flowers. The question stopped me in my tracks. It seemed like a judgment. That somehow, I was a limited artist who couldn’t paint anything else. I guess the word "only" made a difference to me. Every once in a while, I’ve heard this type of statement, but for some reason, this time it struck a chord with me. Perhaps it was because the person who asked it was also an artist. Read More on Substack: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/p/do-you-only-ever-paint-flowers

...

19 3

Plot twist: The visual artist who hated writing just published an article about... writing ✍️⁠
A few years ago I could barely manage thank-you cards. Now journaling is as essential to my creative process as my paintbrush.⁠
One simple daily question changed everything: `What shifted in me today?`⁠
Link to the article is in my bio

8 1
Open post by maryahern with ID 17905354290101018
Plot twist: The visual artist who hated writing just published an article about... writing ✍️⁠ A few years ago I could barely manage thank-you cards. Now journaling is as essential to my creative process as my paintbrush.⁠ One simple daily question changed everything: 'What shifted in me today?'⁠ Link to the article is in my bio

...

8 1

Take a Minute to just look at brushes, the tools of the trade for an Artist.
Some of my brushes are decades old. I take excellent care of them since they take care of me.

3 0
Open post by maryahern with ID 18098996023612649
Take a Minute to just look at brushes, the tools of the trade for an Artist. Some of my brushes are decades old. I take excellent care of them since they take care of me.

...

3 0

"For Those of US" is an article, no, a prose poem, no, a bunch of statements, no a......whatever. I don`t know what it is technically, but what I do know is that it is my lived experience and the experience of untold millions of other women artists. Can you relate?⁠
Link in bio: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/⁠

8 2
Open post by maryahern with ID 18113176156505625
"For Those of US" is an article, no, a prose poem, no, a bunch of statements, no a......whatever. I don't know what it is technically, but what I do know is that it is my lived experience and the experience of untold millions of other women artists. Can you relate?⁠ Link in bio: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/⁠

...

8 2

Here I am, almost 50 years apart. My earliest art shows were at the Floral Park Art League`s summer show, where I would hang my artwork on the fences. All these years later, I`m showing my work in the Ceres Gallery in Chelsea, NY. A long, interesting journey with all the ups and downs of a Coney Island roller coaster. What a trip! Glad to be here and still creating! ⁠
⁠
Read "For Those of US" on my Substack column to learn about my journey. ⁠
Link in Bio: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/⁠

46 3
Open post by maryahern with ID 18079536424936272
Here I am, almost 50 years apart. My earliest art shows were at the Floral Park Art League's summer show, where I would hang my artwork on the fences. All these years later, I'm showing my work in the Ceres Gallery in Chelsea, NY. A long, interesting journey with all the ups and downs of a Coney Island roller coaster. What a trip! Glad to be here and still creating! ⁠ ⁠ Read "For Those of US" on my Substack column to learn about my journey. ⁠ Link in Bio: https://maryahernartist.substack.com/⁠

...

46 3
Mary Ahern Artist Posted on by

Salmagundi Club’s 16th Annual

Sylvia Maria Glesmann : Floral Exhibition

Exhibit & Sale

Location: Rockwell gallery

47 Fifth Avenue @ 12th Street | New York, NY  10003

Tuesday – Friday | 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Open to the public. Free to attend

Reception: Sep 25, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Artwork of sunflowers in a vase
Sunflowers in a Makkum Pot – Homage to van Gogh