Rising Stars: Meet Mary-Austin Klein

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary-Austin Klein.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As long as I can remember, I have always loved playing with paint. There were many creative outlets given to me while growing up. The childhood dream of being an artist was second only to the desire to be a flight attendant and change my name to Tina. 

As a southern California native, I was influenced by my surrounding landscapes at a very young age. Born in San Bernardino, I spent the early years in Redlands while the more formative ones were on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Natural beauty was always the backdrop in everyday life. From the Pacific Ocean to the Mojave Desert and back, these places resonated deeply and influenced my creative direction. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t a smooth road to becoming a professional artist. My family understandably wanted a different career for me other than one of a working artist. I had my real estate license at age 19. This was great, except I didn’t take myself seriously, so how would a client? Within a year or so, I applied to Otis/Parsons and finally found the dream of being immersed in the arts. After thriving in the four-year Fine Arts program, I worked for four years as an assistant for the Los Angeles artist Frank Romero. After seeing how he was mistreated by a few top L.A. galleries, I decided to shift into art production for television and movies. This entailed creating hand props such as fake newspapers and vintage cigarette boxes. The most notable production was the cult favorite “Showgirls.” Two and a half years later, a neighbor, Jesus Sanchez, invited me to show at his new gallery, Ojala, in Echo Park. This is where I found my grounded focus, joy, and success from painting landscapes. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I paint oil paintings that are highly detailed and usually small-scaled, sort of like “hand-helds”—grand scenes in miniature form—that are easy to transport and display, referencing the era before photography. They are cinematic in scope and strive to perfectly capture the essence of the regional light of urban Los Angeles, the California coast, and desert regions. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Essential Qualities 

My work has been described as an improved version of reality – like the vision of something seen in fond memories and has been praised for an understanding of the soul of the place. Light conditions specific to a region are the main goal of each work and how the light interacts with either a quirky urban scene or a perfect day at the beach. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maryaustinklein.com
• Instagram: @mojave29

Image Credits
Tracy A. Stone