Mary Foster

Artist Bio

Mary Foster is a Chicago contemporary artist working in gouache and hand painted wood cut prints. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and went to college in the Midwest, including Northern Illinois University, American Academy of Fine Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, Ox-Box and others. A constant learner, she more recently learned the art of wood cut printing, studying with Audrey Christie and Alfred Stark at Shake Rag Alley for the Arts in Wisconsin.

The middle child, with three brothers Mary was fascinated with making things at a young age. This fascination turned into a passion that drives her today, constantly seeking inspiration and creative opportunities. For most of her adult life, Mary worked in marketing and product development for numerous companies in the Midwest such as Kraft Foods, Swift, Crate and Barrel and V-Tech Toys. She focused on art making after hours. Today, Mary lives in a 115-year old cottage in Chicago that is also the home to her studio where she paints and creates wood cut prints. Her ever-changing garden is home to numerous bugs and critters that provide endless inspiration, a place for peaceful reflection.