FLORENCE-The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present the imaginative paintings by Alabama artist, Marian Baker beginning Sept. 8, 2023. Marian Baker is a contemporary folk artist donning a whimsical style. She spent her early years painting portraits from family photos. After 10 years of painting professionally, Marian continues to draw on her childhood memories in a playful way.
Marian’s sense of humor prevails by incorporating seemingly random numbers in her paintings that allude to her fascination with lucky numbers. This peculiar trademark is rooted in an early painting featuring her lucky number 11. The painting was scoffed at by her husband and that is when she decided to feature numbers in her art to spite his opinion. Bold eccentricity alongside a colorful paint palette are what make up her signature style.
Besides drawing inspiration from family life, Marian finds many ideas from the materials she collects while on the road. Many of her paintings are bordered in old screen-printing frames that she salvaged from a burned down warehouse. Collecting and incorporating these vintage elements adds a timeless value to her work and ultimately completes Marian’s intended expression for her art.
Over the years, people have increasingly recognized Marian Baker, featuring her work on several movies and t.v. programs. At least twenty-five pieces of Marian’s art are on display at the LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. “Storytelling Time, Again” will remain on display at the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center through Oct. 6, 2023.
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached by calling (256) 760-6379.
Media Release/Jenny Dawn Stucki, Art Director/Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts
