Mary Skrenta grew up in the shadow of the New York City skyline, but left home at a young age to spend the early part of her life traveling, exploring, and learning. After graduating from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio with dual degrees, she went on to earn her MFA at Columbus College of Art & Design.
She has exhibited her award-winning art across the United States, is a 2017 recipient of The Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, and is the first adjunct professor in the history of CCAD to earn the annual Teaching Excellence Award (2018-2019).
She is equally passionate about teaching, making, and living mindfully. She believes each practice informs the other, and that sharing the gift of creativity is a vocation, not a job. She has experienced firsthand the power of art to heal and raise consciousness, and she is dedicated to helping others realize that awareness. She teaches various media and disciplines in her studio and with the Veterans Arts Initiative, both in Columbus, Ohio. She is a founding member of the artists' collective MAKE. (Mindful Artists Knowing Existence) whose mission statement is: Exploring creativity as a tool to shift consciousness.
She is a multi-media artist currently exploring a combination of experimental and traditional media in work that provokes thought and questions notions of value, heavily inspired by nature, philosophy, and contemporary society.
Mary is a lifelong learner and the proud mother of two amazing humans, both attending college. In addition to art, she enjoys music, drumming, singing, dancing, yoga, hiking, exploring, reading, nature, laughter, mindfulness, and compassion.
photo credit:
Katie B Funk