Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Harris.
Hi Mary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Starting at the young age of five years old singing with my father at church as well as attending my mother’s art exhibitions. My earliest paintings date back to three years old which my mother holds so closely to her. I believe God keeps me going as a fine artist and someone who is trying to translate connectivity between our current community and immortalize them in oil paint. I was recently recognized by the city of Los Angeles in order to help bridge the gap in the technical divide in South LA. My future plans are to create a meta-verse gallery that will be the home of these paintings forever and tell the stories of those who have touched my life. I am currently working on upcycled Artwork that is an initiative to clean up our planet and still create beautiful artwork. Throughout my life, I’ve struggled with a learning disability mainly in English which had prevented me from finishing my degree for many years. I’m currently enrolled in Santa Monica College two classes away from having an associates in business and starting to study interactive design for my bachelor’s, which in my belief is the next major art advancement in art in the world.
Current Bio:
“Connect with creative entrepreneur Mary Harris, and you’ll be moved by her infectious enthusiasm for art and community. Originally born and raised in a small town in New Jersey seeking a chance to share her gifts in a larger setting, she moved to Los Angeles in 2014. An accomplished multimedia fine artist, musician, and singer-songwriter, Mary is passionate about elevating talent through the power of positive collaboration, organic creation, and meaningful support.
Hollywood’s Enchanted Nights
To that end, Mary launched Mary Harris Originals, Inc., her artistic lifestyle brand specializing in creative event production, talent networking and visibility, and inspirational product development. She uplifts artists by bringing them together through interactive art experiences, as well as creative support and networking groups.
2019 Hollywood Enchanted Nights in Mary Harris Gallery
2019 Hollywood Enchanted Nights in Mary Harris Gallery
Notably, Mary launched Hollywood’s Enchanted Nights in 2016. This immersive art showcase celebrates achievements in music, fashion, and visual art. Since its inception, Hollywood’s Enchanted Nights has evolved into a full weekend red carpet experience uniting a diverse collective of emerging talent.
Mary Harris Gallery
In 2019, Mary brought a long-held dream to fruition when she opened the Mary Harris Gallery in Los Angeles in partnership with Little Amsterdam Coffee. She rewrites established narratives of fine art and entertainment as the gallery’s owner and chief curator. Part art exhibition, part event space, the Mary Harris Gallery is an elevated venue for underrepresented contemporary artists to collaborate and court fresh audiences.
Ep Where Does the Love Go? by Mary “Jane” Harris
Creative Work
Through her explorations in portraiture, Mary captures those “who deserve recognition… those who inspire me and whose stories beg to be told.” Whether she’s creating a quick sketch or a more intensive piece, Mary appreciates the intimacy and catharsis that unfolds between artist and subject. “I feel a spiritual connection to what I paint,” she explains. “I become a conduit for sharing, authenticity, and vulnerability through creative expression. Together, we experience the purity of simply being present.”
While Mary celebrates connection and community through visual art, her inner world shines through her accomplishments as an acoustic soul singer-songwriter. She honed her vocal talent in celebration of faith, singing gospel in church as a child. From there, “I began to express my deepest truth through music,” she recalls. Mary creates each song from a space of raw self-reflection. Her rich, velvety vocals tell stories of heartbreak, self-realization, and lessons hard learned. “By exposing my truth, I hope to encourage others to connect with theirs as well.”
To date, Mary’s music has touched the hearts of audiences in over 35 cities across the U.S. She released her debut album, Life Is Life, in 2013. An EP, Where Does the Love Go? followed in 2016.
Through her endeavors, Mary has positioned herself at the center of a creative movement that dismantles self-imposed boundaries to reveal the authenticity within. She encourages creators to live their best lives by anchoring their pursuits in consistency, discipline, and persistence. By providing artists with a platform to thrive, uplifting people with her message, or simply chasing her own muse, she inspires all she encounters to honor their gifts, stoke their creative fires, and love themselves and others as vessels of pure, divine truth.” – Damaris Candano
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Along the way I have always had to fight the identity of being a black artist. This label constantly puts me in a category that only reaches 13% of the U.S. market. I constantly fight to be seen as an artist, just an artist, a human being no matter the color of my skin or the subject of my paintings I wish to leave behind a legacy a story outside of just my own race. My academic struggles started much earlier in life in first grade when my teacher tried to put me on Ridellan instead of teaching me because I learn differently. Many years later I had struggled to keep high grades in college but graduating high school with 3.89 & honors, I thought my bubbly personality and ability to work harder would get me through. I dropped out at 19 due to my struggle with reading and writing. I later got fired from my job at Bank of America which prompted me to follow my dream to be an entertainer. The following year I moved to California to pursue my career and music.
Unfortunately when I arrived, I was unable to fully reach my potential in music because I was torn between being a pastor’s daughter and singing worldly music I had even come up with an alternative identity “Mary Jane Harris” to release my music under. I was hiding the fact that I was doing secular music from my family’s church. To that end, my art had begun to pay the bills so I decided to go back to school and study business after nine years of bumping my head. When I first arrived, I was singing and playing the guitar in Hollywood Boulevard in order to pay my rent. Sometimes sleeping on couches is the same story that many people have. At my current college, they have tested me and found that I struggle with dyslexia. Now that I have the proper resources I am two classes away from finishing my associate’s degree in business management.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a portrait painter that specializes in oils and acrylics. I am most known for my realistic portraits and soulful music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/where-does-the-love-go-ep/1212696928). I am most proud of my show that I put on Hollywood Enchanted Nights which sells my work and helps me pre-sell art throughout the year. This last year I took on new artists and also taught them the business side and taught them how to sell their work before they create. I’m an artist étiquette and I stand in rooms and constantly challenge people in power to take a closer look at the creative community and what keeps them back. What sets me apart from others is my heart for what I do for the people I serve and for the community that I live in. I’m not just an artist but a philanthropist that gives back through missionary work with Waves of Glory Christian Center in Williamstown, Nj. I am also working closely with the Memorial Crane (https://memorialcraneproject.org) project which is an art installation of hanging cranes paired with an online record of submitted stories of those who lost their lives through COVID-19. Most recently I was honored by the mayor’s office of Mayor Garcetti for helping bridge the technical divide in South LA. My focus has been on creating a meta-verse gallery that will connect upcycled artists such as myself and others willing to work to clean up our city.
Artist Statement: Mary Harris is an African-American artist whose artwork focuses on portrait painting and abstract expressionism. She explains “I see light as a parallel to human experience, ever-evolving to each moment as we ourselves are. Painting for me uncovers these moments encapsulated in time. My work leaves a record of these memories, relationships, and emotions to be transcribed in future generations. My love for art comes from my mother Barbara A. Harris, who taught me as young as three to express my passion through color. I continue to carry this passion for creating and expressing all facets of the human condition.”
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory going to the Ben Franklin Institute with my mom and being able to see a sculpture of me and my sister on display that she created called Mary Elizabeth. I remember feeling empowered that if she could do it, I could be an artist as well.
Pricing:
- Portraits start at 1500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artmusicmaryjane.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Artmusicmaryjane
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067718174038
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marybear08094
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mary-harris-originals-los-angeles
- Other: https://bio.site/artmusicmaryjane
Image Credits
Bike photo – Steffaney Price Me singing & playing my guitar – Mark Hammond
