Mary Behnam
Abstract Painter | Varied Media
'None are so old as those who have outlived ENTHUSIASM'
Mary Behnam’s love for art started when she was a young girl in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 11, Mary and her family left their country during the tumultuous Iranian Revolution. She continued to passionately pursue art in the U.S., receiving a Bachelors in Art from San Diego State University.
For 20 years, she had her own graphic design company, MM Design, serving clients all over San Diego County. In 2011, she decided to give up receiving a steady paycheck and pursue her love of painting. Mary has built her dream studio which she creates art daily. Her pieces are mainly abstract acrylic paintings on canvas.
Mary lives in San Diego with her husband, two teenage daughters and their cute little dog Lucky. If she’s not in her art studio, she can be found happily on her yoga mat or the tennis court.
“When I begin a piece, often times I have no idea where it will end up. Abstract work is freeing and meditative for me; it’s letting go and being intuitive. I have never wanted to be anything else but an artist. So when I had a job, I was always creating my own artwork in parallel. It has only been in the past ten years that I’ve had the opportunity to focus solely on finding my own creative voice. I measure my worth by my dedication to my art. Creativity is an essential part of my being and keeps me young and playful.”
“My abstract art is intended to evoke an emotion or a thought, which might not necessarily be my own. It’s my own magical spell that feels like home no matter where I am. Give me a paper and pencil, and I am happy.
Give me paint and canvas, and I am in heaven.“