Mara Abboud, Iris, 2023, Original painting on silk, 36 x 36 inches, Courtesy the Artist.
SOLVANG — The Wildling Museum is pleased to partner with award-winning artist Mara Abboud in presenting Mara Abboud: Visions of Beauty, an exhibition and fundraiser supporting the Wildling on view through Nov. 12, 2023 in the Valley Oak Gallery.
Abboud has been honored with the prestigious “Artist of the Year” award by the Academies Des Beaux Arts (New York, 1977), “Artist of the Year” by the Santa Barbara Arts Council (Santa Barbara Arts Festival, 1987), “International Artist of the Year” by the International Women’s Conference (Santa Barbara, 1998), and the AMAL “International Artist of the Year” (Washington, DC, 1998).
Mara Abboud, Moody Blues, Original painting on silk, 48 x 24 inches, Courtesy the Artist.
This special exhibition will feature over a dozen original painted works accompanied by limited edition prints on canvas with extensive hand-painting overlay, highlighting the natural world and beyond. Select limited edition indoor tile wall murals will also be featured in the exhibition. All works are available for sale and proceeds will support the Wildling Museum.
During the show, Abboud will also have a selection of custom-made tempered glass serving trays, along with coaster sets and notecards for sale in the Wildling Museum store for a limited time.
Abboud has received international recognition for her brilliant innovation and unusual painting technique, working with acrylics on canvas and silk. Her painting style is uniquely her own, interweaving a palette of spectacular colors with fantasy designs, achieving a jewel-like tapestry effect reminiscent of tiles and stained glass.
Her art has been exhibited in over 25 solo shows and reproduced in 26 publications, including Art in America, Art News, Architectural Digest, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Palm Beach Daily, Naples Illustrated, Santa Barbara Magazine, Santa Barbara News-Press, and Montecito Journal.
Her work is included in prestigious collections throughout the United States and Europe. Locally, Abboud served as a guest artist at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in 2006 and 2007 and has created Santa Barbara County commissions that include the 2014 Granada Theatre 90th anniversary celebration poster, five paintings for the landmark collection at Cottage Hospital, and many more.
To learn more about Mara Abboud and to explore more examples of her work, visit www.maraabboud.com.
About the Wildling Museum
The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, where art and nature meet, offers visitors a unique perspective on the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Through the eyes of artists, and education and field experiences, guests can renew their relationship with the wilderness and understand its fragile nature – hopefully leaving more committed toward ensuring those spaces remain for future generations. Current visiting hours are weekdays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For more information, and to volunteer or join as a member to support this important local arts and nature institution, please visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.