Mari Andrews is a sculptor and installation artist who creates poetic, three-dimensional drawings from natural and man-made objects. Representing the beauty of marginalized materials, each sculpture comes to life both independently and when unified across a wall. Representing an elemental portrait of the beauty that surrounds us, Andrews’ artworks highlight the creative possibilities intrinsic to overlooked objects.
Mari Andrews’ sculptural work incorporates a collection of personally found treasures. Acorns, seeds, rocks, lichen, rust, pigment, and leaves are carefully combined with annealed steel wire or metal panels to create distinct forms. Andrews cherishes each found object and allows the spirit of these objects to direct her work. Due to the contrasting textures and patterns of her materials, Andrews’ work makes a textured wall installation burst with nuanced shapes and peculiarities. The artworks change throughout the day as light dances across the wall forming elusive shadows that expand behind each piece. Juxtaposing delicate shapes with multifaceted forms, Andrews’ pieces mirror the complicated nature of the human condition. Delicate yet twisted, sturdy yet flexible, these sculptures remind us of the qualities found within ourselves. Playfully tying us to the peculiarities that surround our lives, these elemental sculptures bring life and intrigue to homes, galleries, and museums around the world.
Mari Andrews earned her BFA from the University of Dayton, Ohio, where she studied art, education, and sociology. Traveling west, she completed her MFA at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. She has been awarded an NEA Fellowship and several residencies, including the Djerassi Resident Artist Program in Woodside California and the Cold Press north of London. Her work can be found in the collections of the de Young Museum in San Francisco, San Jose Museum of Art, the de Saisset Museum in Santa Clara, CA, the Eli Broad Foundation, and in private and corporate collections in the US and abroad. Andrews has exhibited extensively throughout California and the US, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, the Bolinas Museum, the Los Gatos Museum, Southern Exposure in San Francisco and the Tucson Museum of Art. Internationally, she has exhibited in Japan, Israel, and England. She lives and works in Emeryville, California.