Mary Prema - Artist
Mary Prema is an award-winning Artist and Art Educator. Her highly sought-after paintings are represented in corporate, institutional, and private collections across Australia and overseas.
Mary passionately captures the natural beauty of her surroundings, drawing inspiration from extensive travels throughout Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. Her love for hiking deepens her appreciation for the lush flora and fauna, while her quiet moments watching the sunrise over the Australian bush and seaside infuse her work with a sense of light, colour, and tranquility.
Mary loves to challenge herself
by bringing a fresh, contemporary perspective to natural scenes. She has worked in most traditional mediums but favours acrylics with mixed media on canvas. Her use of spectacular layers of colour, combined with an intrepid approach to light and shadow, adds harmony and depth, creating paintings that captivate and engage the viewer.
Mary is not only a fine art painter, but also a distinctive fine art photographer. Her fine art photographs are popular as much as her paintings.
From a Young Age
Mary's passion for art was evident from a young age. Born in India, her innate talent quickly gained the attention of teachers and peers, earning her numerous art awards. Mary’s school art teacher, who had been a significant influence, often remarked with delight that Mary’s talent had surpassed her own, a testament to her dedication and skill.
At the age of just 14, Mary held her first exhibition and began accepting commissioned projects, creating custom designs for textiles, wall decor, and promotional banners. These early endeavours not only showcased her creativity but also laid the foundation for her lifelong career in the arts.
Unbreakable Artistic Spirit
Mary’s unwavering commitment to art was evident even as a child. At the age of five, while seriously ill and hospitalised, she asked her mother for coloured pencils and paper, losing herself in her drawings despite the grave concerns of doctors and family members. This defining moment highlighted her resilience and passion for creating.
As she grew, Mary continued to hone her artistic abilities alongside her academic pursuits. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, an MBA, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and Advanced Studies in Visual Arts, consistently ranking among the top students. Her academic accomplishments, combined with her creative vision, allowed her to blend artistic innovation with strong professional acumen.
Upon Academic Completion
Mary worked for pioneering global companies in Human Resources, Marketing, and Business Development Management for more than three and a half decades. She infuses passion and optimism into all her endeavours, following a distinguished corporate journey marked by numerous honours and consistent professional recognition.
Having coached corporate sales teams, she places a strong emphasis on positivity, perseverance, professionalism, and well-being. She has an outstanding work ethic and places a premium on health, happiness, and balance.
While pursuing art alongside her corporate career, she now embraces a full-time art practice to follow her passion.
A Prolonged Chapter Marked by Unspeakable Suffering
Through severe domestic violence, starting at the young age of 18, Mary endured lasting wounds that took a significant toll on her physical and emotional well-being. Amidst it all, she clung fiercely to one hope: to preserve her ability to paint — instinctively protecting her arms during repeated brutal assaults, determined that one day, her hands would return to the canvas.
In the years that followed, she navigated profound life changes — raising two children entirely on her own without financial or physical support, advancing her education, rebuilding her life across countries, managing health challenges, and carrying it all alone. With none of her family around for support, and through life’s many trials, her art always offered a glimpse of hope and a guiding light.
Through it all, she learned when to pause — to step back and quietly restore her inner strength. During these times, she also learned to travel solo across the world, finding deep inspiration in art galleries and museums and the healing presence of nature, which became essential sources of reflection and creative renewal.
These moments of stillness became vital, allowing her to return to her art with deeper meaning, renewed purpose, clarity, and a graceful flow.
For years, she kept her distance from social media, sheltered in silence — but now, she emerges with quiet strength to share her light.
Exploring the Unknown
taking the road less travelled, turning many harsh adversities into opportunities and growth, starting with nothing but vision, learning a new skill, gratefulness for the gift of life, rising from multiple extreme burnouts, making a lasting difference and inspiring those around her are some of the well known traits of Mary.
Mary Operates Her Studio
nestled in the scenic Australian countryside of Hunter Valley. Her days are devoted to health, fitness, and creative pursuits, quietly sustained through devotion and prayer, beginning with tranquil mornings and translating her inspirational ideas into artworks that illuminate hearts, homes, and offices.
Education
Nationally Accredited Visual Arts Studies, New Zealand Manukau Institute of Technology 2002
MBA in Human Resources Management, K.J. Institute of Management Studies and Research 1999
Post Graduate Diploma in Management and Industrial Relations, VPM's Institute of Management Studies 1996
Bachelor of Arts, Madurai Kamaraj University 1987
Higher Secondary Education, St. Ignatius' Convent Higher Secondary School 1983
Prizes
Highly commended
Gwandalan Lioness Art Prize, NSW, Australia 2021
Merit award
Exceptional Art Educator, Adult Community Education Division, New Zealand 2010
Winner
The Upper Form Artscape, St.Ignatius' Convent, Nellai, India 1983
Finalist
District-Level Science Exhibition- Featured Banner Artwork, Nellai, India 1982
People's choice
Nellai District Art Prize- Mixed Media Art, Nellai, India 1981
Category winner
Science Expo- Immersive Visual Art Installation, Nellai, India 1980
Winner
The 9-12 Collective Art Showcase, St.Ignatius' Convent, Nellai, India 1980
Winner
The Scholastic Drawing Exhibit, St.Ignatius' Convent, Nellai, India 1979
Exhibitions
2024 Dobell Art Exhibition, Wangi Lions/Wangi District Club, NSW, Australia
2021 Art Unlimited- Australia's Leading Regional Art Exhibition, Dunedoo, NSW, Australia
2021 Gwandalan Lioness Art Exhibition, Lions Club of Gwandalan Lioness, NSW, Australia
2020 Artist’s Exclusive, Mary Prema Art Gallery, Hunter Valley, Australia
2019 Fragments of Me, Mary Prema Art Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2018 Feature Exhibition, St.Finbar's Catholic Church, Sydney, Australia
2016 Art Collective: A Curated Assembly, The Elephant House Gallery, Parnell, New Zealand
2015 The Artist's Journey, Mary Prema Art Gallery, Central Auckland, New Zealand
2014 The Original Art Sale, TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau, New Zealand
2013 The Trusts Arts Exhibition, Waitakere Arts, Corban Estate Arts Centre, West Auckland, New Zealand
2012 Shared Ground: An Exhibition by the Collective, Craft World, Auckland, New Zealand
2011 Small Packages Exhibition, New Zealand Art Guild, Auckland, New Zealand
2011 Art Challenge- Light of my Life, New Zealand Art Guild, Auckland, New Zealand
2011 Delightful Surroundings Solo Exhibition, Abundance Art Gallery, West Auckland, New Zealand
2010 Emerge Exhibition, New Zealand Art Guild, Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna Beach, New Zealand
2009 Annual Members' Exhibition, New Zealand Art Guild, Auckland, New Zealand
2008 Gallery Group Show, Mosaic Art Gallery, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand
2007 The Artists' Collection, Weta Art Gallery, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand
2006 Featured Artists Exhibition, Mosaic Art Gallery, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand
2005 Unwrapped: A Visual Collection, The Art & Gift House, Auckland International Airport, New Zealand
2004 The Collective Exhibition, Citizens Advice Bureau, Auckland, New Zealand
2003 Visual Arts Certification Exhibition, Manukau Institute of Technology, New Zealand
2002 A Retrospective, Mary Prema Art Gallery, West Auckland, New Zealand
1997 Solo Brushstrokes, Mary Prema Studios, Mumbai, India
1994 Corporate Art Showcase, NELCO, Maharashtra, India
1991 On-site Art Show, Datamatics Ltd, Andheri, India
1983 Higher Secondary Art Showcase, St.Ignatius' Convent, Nellai, India
1982 District-Level Science Exhibition, Nellai, India
1981 Nellai District Art Exhibition, Nellai Junction Art Association, India
1980 Science Expo- Immersive Visual Art Installation, Nellai, India
1980 High School Art Showcase, St.Ignatius' Convent, Nellai, India
1979 Secondary School Drawing Presentation, St.Ignatius' Convent, Nellai, India
1979 The Studio Showcase, The Founding Studio, Nellai Junction, India