Mary Anne Carter
Mary Anne Carter is a Seattle-based artist and curator working across a wide range of media, including textiles, printmaking, and glass, to create vibrant installations, sculptures, and functional art objects. Her recent installation, STÖR, was named one of the best shows of 2024 by The Seattle Times.
Born with a port-wine stain birthmark on her left cheek, she has long gravitated toward the odd and irregular. Her playful, boldly patterned environments invite viewers to drop their guard and step into spaces where humor softens the edges of deeper conversations about self-expression, identity, and other social issues.
At the core of her art and curatorial work is a mission to dissolve barriers to seeing, making, and experiencing art. Her work has appeared at The Frye, AMcE Gallery, J. Rinehart, Bellevue Art Museum, Seattle Art Fair, Museum of Museums, The Factory, King Street Station, Junior High LA, Get Nice Gallery, Mount Analogue, Vermillion, and more.
In 2024, she co-founded Wishbone Industrial Arts, a multidisciplinary design studio that unifies form and function in a range of household and art objects.
Artist Statement: This year, my work has been driven by a curiosity about the art and objects that quietly shape our everyday lives. I’ve been paying close attention to how the things we live with affect our moods, sense of self, and feeling of home.
Through this, I’ve leaned further into making functional art: pieces that are meant to be used as much as admired. I’m fascinated by how adding usefulness can actually lower an artwork’s perceived value in the art world, even though it makes it more meaningful in daily life. This tension between art and utility, preciousness and practicality, echoes the ways class and status still influence who gets to live with beauty, comfort, and abundance.
By creating pieces that are both sculpture and everyday companion, I want to soften these boundaries. Each piece invites touch, daily rituals, and a bit of humor. For me, art doesn’t belong only on pedestals or white walls. It should live with us, shape how we feel, and remind us to care for ourselves and each other.
View Her Work: View more of her work at the Actualize Studios Booth at SAF and at Actualize Studio satellite events this weekend.
Mary Anne Carter curated Actualize’s Summer Showcase, which features new work by 27 artists-in-residence. This dynamic exhibition celebrates a year of creative growth, experimentation, and community. From sculpture to painting, video to performance, the show offers a vibrant snapshot of what happens when artists are given time, space, and support to deepen their practice.
Located at 500 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101, Actualize is open to the public 1-5 on Saturday, July 19th and Sunday, July 20th. Reserve your free tickets and learn more here.
Pricing:
Charm Chains: $200/link | $200/charm
Face Table Set: $4500