Mary de Blacam was born in Lansing, the state capital of the Midwestern state of Michigan, USA. Her family later moved to Dublin, where she grew up.

The character of her work draws on a range of influences she absorbed over many years travelling and living in different parts of the world. This included London, Glasgow, San Francisco, New York and a truly absorbing part of her life spent living in Australia.

“I feel my years of travelling, assimilating diverse cultural influences and sharing contrasting lifestyles has created a vast reservoir of ideas from which I draw my inspiration. The frantic pace of New York and the uniqueness and colour of San Francisco were part of my life for several years.  And then there was the relaxed, outdoor life of Australia, living in a landscape of broad horizons and dramatic contrasts. It was in Sydney that I began to study Australian Aboriginal culture and art, being drawn to the subtle colours and mysterious symbolism that span thousands of years. The intricate patterning and minute detail of these primitive works seem to dig deep inside the human psyche.

My own work tends to feature bold colours that provide an immediate impact, while seeming to resonate within the context of the cool Irish climate. I suppose my style could be described as semi-abstract. I like to challenge the viewer, and my work has been described by some critics as broadly expressionist in nature.

My first visit to the amazing Sydney Fish Market left a lasting impression in terms of the forms and colours of the huge range of exotic sea creatures on sale – a vast array of heaving sea life that has evolved over millennia. This has led me to explore the endless possibilities of piscatorial subject matter. On another tack a chance reading about a scandal in the Vatican resulted in my present fascination for the Renaissance-style uniforms of the Swiss Guard and their long association with the courts of Europe.

I like to work quickly in acrylics, using coarse brushwork, executed in a gestural style, often on a compact scale, but I am also happy to take on the challenge of larger formats. Being an impulsive person in many ways I go where my imagination takes me, being subject to few rules and frequent changes of mind, which works well for me!”

Mary de Blacam is a graduate of the Mackintosh School of Art and has exhibited in the following galleries; Leinster Gallery, Origin Gallery, Gormley’s Fine Art and Steambox Studios, Trinity Gallery and The Kilkenny Gallery, Kilkenny City