Magnolias in Bloom II - Original Painting

Biography
Mary Gaspar is an abstract artist based in Wilmette, Illinois. After studying painting at the Evanston Art Center, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Illinois, where her education deepened her understanding of composition, movement and visual storytelling. Her signature Plant Cell series emerged during the early years of motherhood, as an outlet for an overwhelming surge of creative energy. What began as a deeply personal exploration evolved into a body of work that serves as the foundation for her practice today.

Gaspar’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Domino, and Property Brothers, and is held in private collections throughout the United States and internationally.

She paints from her home studio in Wilmette, where she lives with her husband, their three daughters, and two dogs. When she isn’t in the studio, she can usually be found tending her garden—a constant source of inspiration for her work.

Artist Statement
My paintings begin with composition. From there, each piece gradually reveals itself through successive layers of water, pigment, and texture. I allow the natural movement of water and paint to guide the process, embracing both intention and spontaneity as the work evolves.

I am drawn to the tension between opposing forces—light and shadow, stillness and movement, order and chaos. Within that balance, I search for moments of quiet complexity and connection.

On the Plant Cell Series
I have always been fascinated by the hidden architecture of the botanical world. Within every plant cell exists an intricate universe, rich with movement, structure, and life. Through this series, I explore those unseen landscapes using delicate linear forms and the fluid nature of watercolor.

As pigment travels through water, it separates, converges, and transforms—mirroring the organic rhythms of living cells. While the compositions appear minimal, they are intended to suggest expansive internal worlds that exist beneath the surface. At their core, these works are about connection: our relationship to nature, to ourselves, and to one another.

You can get a glimpse inside Gaspar's workspace and learn more about her artistic process via our Inside the Studio interview with Mary on the blog.