GREEN, Contemporary Paintings Inspired by the Garden
by Marie Anthony
June 1 – August 11 

Join us to celebrate the work of Marie Anthony, a Boston-based painter whose vivid artworks on display are inspired by botanical forms found at New England Botanic Garden. Dynamic oil paintings come to life with a blend of saturated and muted colors, intricate patterns, and distinct shapes. It’s a vibrant and uplifting exhibit that conveys the joys of the spring and summer growing seasons as well as the beauty and intricacy of nature. GREEN will be on view in the Milton Gallery, and whether you’re a lover of art, nature, or both, this exhibit is sure to inspire.

  • Flutter, from Marie Anthony's Green
  • From Above, from Marie Anthony's Green
  • Sweet Blossom, from Marie Anthony's Green

More About the Artist

Marie Anthony is a contemporary painter who has been working in the South End’s SoWa Art and Design district since 2018. While she currently resides in Newton, MA, Anthony is originally from West Boylston, MA. She graduated with her undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross in nearby Worcester and earned her MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in 2016. 

Since 2015, Anthony’s artistic practice has centered upon bringing positivity and joyful energy to the viewer through her unique abstract visual language. She works largely in the still-life genre, and veered into flower abstractions in late 2020 as a means of retreating into the healing power of nature. Her work is characterized by a palette of intense, saturated colors, richly textured surfaces, and an abundance of shapes referencing both the natural and manmade world. 

One of my favorite quotes is from 19th Century painter, Phillip Guston: “I feel strongly believed in and stated convictions on art have a habit of tumbling and collapsing in front of a canvas, when the act of painting actually begins.” 

The act of painting is filled with surprise and mystery. One constant is that prior to putting a brush to canvas, I begin with thought, and intention. For this exhibit, I thought about the Garden, and in particular, a garden in spring transitioning into summer. One word came to me… “green.” Green as a color in all its endless shades, tints, and tones, seems to elicit some very strong opinions. But the green of spring, of new growth, of health and life, and of respect for the environment, is a beloved symbol, word, and concept universally. “Green” then, in all its definitions and associations, gave me a starting point, while my forays into the Garden with a camera gave me inspiration. And while there is no shade of green I don’t love, this body of work was to be more about the many associations and meanings of “green,” than simply about a paint color. My purpose became clear: to capture the color and joy of elements plucked from a lush, magical garden alive with joyful color. 

This exhibit is dedicated to those who sow their seeds, talk to their houseplants, weed, and water their plots, nourish anything that’s growing, lovingly tend to their container gardens, transplant, harvest, and stand in awe of the Garden’s wonder. It’s for those who celebrate the earliest green shoots, or watch for the first blooming crocus, and marvel at new buds all summer. It’s for all those who journey to experience the serene gardens here. 

My wish for the viewers of GREEN is that they enjoy a moment of escape and feel uplifted with a flash of joy as they view this exhibit.