Mary Tilley Zeman is a self-taught artist from Jamaica, New York who began painting after undergoing brain surgery over 15 years ago. She left her career in television in 2000 to pursue art full-time. Zeman paints in a colorful, childlike style and draws inspiration from various folk and outsider artists. Her work has been shown in numerous galleries and festivals across the United States and she also produces a line of printed home goods.

1. Mary Tilley Zeman/Self-Taught Artist
Born in Jamaica(Queens), N.Y. October 1963
221 McAffee Street
Woodstock, GA 30188 Phone: 678-401-5131
Websites: www.maryzemanart.com
e-mail: maryezeman@aol.com/ B.A Journalism/Advertising, University of Georgia 1986
ARTIST BIO:
Over 15 years ago, I began to paint after I had brain surgery to remove a benign brain tumor from the right side
of my brain. I was recovering from surgery, and out of the blue, I called my mom and asked her to take me to
buy some paint and brushes. This was the first time I ever painted in my life. While I was growing up, I was
never exposed to art and just didn’t know anything about it, though I had always wanted to learn more. I began
painting on wood, paper, newspaper, anything I could find, then I started to paint on canvas. When I went
back to my job in television, people looked at my art on the walls of my cubicle, and some people encouraged
me to go further with it. I would work all day, then come home and paint at night, and looked forward to the
time I would be painting. In October of 2000, I decided to leave my job and make a go of being a full-time
artist. Everyday, I learn something new about art, and I love making art. The biggest compliment I can get is
when adults look at my work and say, “that looks so childlike”. On the surface, my work seems to be innocent
and non-threatening, but if you look deeper, there are many times observations about everything, from life,
death, religion, politics, pain, childhood, just about everything. I never know what I’m going to paint, it just
comes to me as I go. I love to write poetry, also, but don’t do it as much as I used to.. My artistic influences
are varied. I like the work of Picasso, Andre’ Derain, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Howard Finster, Andy Warhol,
Alice Neal, Harry Teague, & many others. I think art is everywhere, sometimes we just have to see.
My latest venture (starting in 2009) has been working on a line of doormats, dishtowels, pillows and other
useful things using my art printed on fabric and fiber. I believe in these with all my heart and I continue to go
forward with more design work as part of my art. I have over 50 retail clients throughout the United States.
Currently I have a gallery studio in house to display my work, and I am also a Power Seller on eBay, selling high
end designer bags (eBay ID: beachhousecolorful).
SHOWS:
Inman Park Festival/Atlanta 1998-2013
Dunwoody Arts Festival/Dunwoody,GA 2010
Wesleyan School Art Show/Atlanta 2005-2007, 2009
Marietta Center for Yoga Art Show/Marietta, GA 2008-2009
Papermill Market/Marietta,GA 2009
Fearrington Folk Art Show/North Carolina 2006-2009
Travelers Rest Art Mission Show/South Carolina 2007-2009
Creative Arts Guild/Dalton, GA 2007-2009
Who Fest Outsider Art Show/Atlanta 2004-2005,2007-20008
Folk Fest/Atlanta 2001, 2003,2004, 2005-2007, 2009
Atlanta Merchandise Mart/Handcrafted January 2009
Gilda’s Club Art Show/Atlanta, GA 2008
Work of Our Hands Art Show/Atlanta 2005-2006,2008
Clairemont Elementary Art Show/Decatur,GA 2003-2005,2007(Birdhouse Design Winner 2005)
Market at the Works/Atlanta 2006-2007
Arts For Independence/Atlanta 2005-2006
Decatur Arts Festival/Decatur, GA 2001, 2004-2006
Spotlight on Southern Artists/Atlanta 2002, 2004-2006
Raw Art Festival/London, England 2004
Virginia-Highland Summerfest/Atlanta 2004 (Tee Shirt Design Winner), 2005
Urban Market on Means Street/Atlanta 2004
Spruill Arts Center Market/Atlanta 2003
FinsterFest/Summerville, GA 2000-2003
House of Blues Folk Art Festival/Orlando 2001-2002
Nordstrom’s/Atlanta (Versace in-store promotion) 2002
Roswell Arts Festival/Roswell, GA 2002-2003
MOCA GA/“Off the Wall” Show)Atlanta 2002

2. GALLERIES/BOUTIQUES AND RESTAURANTS:
Accents and Interiors/Urbandale, IA 2009
Social Specialties/Suwanee,GA 2009
Animal Trax/Madison, AL 2009
Cherry Street Concepts/Henderson, NC 2009
Charms by Cindi/Cary, NC 2009
St. Joseph Hospital/St. Louis, MO 2009
Coco’s/Cocoa Village, Fl 2009
Lucy’s Fresh Art Gallery/Fayetteville,GA 2009
Winder Binder Gallery/Chattanooga, TN 2008-2009
Good Dog Eatery/Chattanooga, TN 2008-2009
Ecclectibles/Savannah,GA 2008
Village Pot Shop, North Carolina 2008
Doodlebugz/Marietta,GA 2008
Crazy Dog Art/Talking Rock, GA 2008
Beaded Bliss Jewelry/Marietta,GA 2008
Bunya Bunya Boutique/Park City, UT 2007-2008
Fearrington House Restaurant/Pittsboro, NC 2007-2008
Painted Moon Art/Darien, GA 2007-2008
Rougette Gallery/Rockland Maine 2005-2008
Scratch Kitchen/Hilton Head, S.C 2006-2008
America! Oh, Yes, Hilton Head, S.C 2003-2007
Brickhouse Antiques/Wilmington, DE 2005-2007
Maribeth Bell Designs 2006
Hilltop Gallery/Wilmington,DE 2004-2006
Around Back at Rocky’s Place 2004
Network Chirorpractic/Decatur,GA 2004
American Folk/Asheville, NC 2004
The Delta Eye/Clarksdale, MS 2004
Foothills Gallery/Jasper, GA 2003-2004
Pearl’s Folk Art/Chattanooga, TN 2003-2004
Cuz-I Gallery/Pawley’s Island, S.C 2003-2004
Roomscapes Gallery/Woodstock,GA 2004
Antique Attic/Marietta, GA 2004
Primitive Eye/Decatur, GA 2000-2001
Matilda’s/Alpharetta, GA 2000-2002
Square Roots/Decatur, GA 2001-2002
Lawler/Taylor Gallery/Birmingham, AL 2001-2002
PUBLICATIONS:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Article in Arts and Books on 4/23/06
Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Article April,
2006
Art Papers/Letters to the editor March/April 2002
Picklebird online Magazine/Article 2002 (www.picklebird.com)
National Advertisting Readymade Magazine
August/September 2008
December 2008/January 2009
Mary Engelbreit Home Companion
October 2008 (Etsy Co-Op Ad)

3. Gallery Clients/Retail Stores
Accents and Interiors/Urbandale, IA
Social Specialties/Suwanee,GA
Animal Trax/Madison, AL
Cherry Street Concepts/Henderson, NC
Charms by Cindi/Cary, NC
St. Joseph Hospital/St. Louis, MO
Coco’s/Cocoa Village, Fl
Lucy’s Fresh Art Gallery/Fayetteville,GA
Winder Binder Gallery/Chattanooga, TN
Good Dog Eatery/Chattanooga, TN
Ecclectibles/Savannah,GA
Village Pot Shop, North Carolina
Doodlebugz/Marietta,GA
Crazy Dog Art/Talking Rock, GA
Beaded Bliss Jewelry/Marietta,GA
Bunya Bunya Boutique/Park City, UT
Fearrington House Restaurant/Pittsboro, NC
Painted Moon Art/Darien, GA
Rougette Gallery/Rockland Maine
Scratch Kitchen/Hilton Head, S.C
America! Oh, Yes, Hilton Head, S.C
Brickhouse Antiques/Wilmington, DE
Robin Carlton Custom Monograms/Chicago,IL
Maribeth Bell Designs
Hilltop Gallery/Wilmington,DE
Around Back at Rocky’s Place
Network Chirorpractic/Decatur,GA
American Folk/Asheville, NC
The Delta Eye/Clarksdale, MS
Foothills Gallery/Jasper, GA
Pearl’s Folk Art/Chattanooga, TN
Cuz-I Gallery/Pawley’s Island, S.C
Roomscapes Gallery/Woodstock,GA
Antique Attic/Marietta, GA
Primitive Eye/Decatur, GA
Matilda’s/Alpharetta, GA
Square Roots/Decatur, GA
Lawler/Taylor Gallery/Birmingham, AL