Mary Tapogna moved to Portland from Cincinnati, Ohio 24 years ago. She received a BFA from the Cincinnati Art Academy in Photography, and has since exhibited her work all over the country. Her mosaics are hand fabricated using a variety of found and discarded materials (most often, tiles and glass) combined with the underlayment of imagery. The final result derives from the intuitive placement and layering of these materials and images.

This past year has been filled with several significant events for Mary. She recently completed a large scale 17 ft. tall mosaic that adorns the outdoor chimney at Fire on the Mountain, at 57th and Fremont. This epic project took 4 months from start to finish, and was created on site. It is an abstract, vibrant, and inspired textural representation of a fire and it’s sparks.

Recently she also completed her first residency at The Catamount Arts Center in St. Johnsbury, Vermont at the recommendation of friend, Vermonter and singer, Neko Case. The residency involved teaching middle school children, and creating a public art piece for the Art Center’s front grounds. Mary exhibited her work there in the Art Center’s gallery, made many new friends, and fell in love with Vermont.

Last fall Mary was forced to move from her rented studio/storefront space after ten years of contributing to that community’s identity with her brick and mortar store, Hail Mary. It was a disruptive change for her and her business, but a necessary one. Working from her home studio, she is in the midst of a large commission making several lamps and a window for a medical marijuana clinic.

Her work can be seen today in fine establishments across Portland in both public and private venues.

A few of these in Portland include:

McMenamins Kennedy School

Dots Restaurant – SE Clinton and 26th

Pizza A Go Go – NE Williams at Cook

Interstate Light Rail Line – Kenton Station Train Platforms, Portland

prAna store, NW 23rd and Irving

Maryville Nursing Home, Beaverton

This will be Mary’s third time showing her amazing mosaics at Redux.

**She will also showcase a collection of her photographs around back at the “24-7 Photo Gallery”. 

Mosaics, lamps and photos will exhibit for two full months in August-September, with an Opening Reception Aug 1st, 6-9:30pm.