Hello! I'm Mary Adam, a portrait and landscape artist. I live in Greenville, SC. ​I've been an artist all my life, but the first 20+ years of my career were spent on the business side of arts organizations, with my personal art-making as only a hobby. I made a career change a few years ago, and went back to my first love of drawing and painting and began doing commissioned portraits full-time. I very much enjoy creating special pieces of art for families to cherish, whether of a child, a family member, or even a pet. Please be in touch with me if you have interest in commissioning a portrait of your own!

My experience ranges from both the artistic side and the business side of the arts, as you can see below...

Education:
  • B.F. A. in Painting & Drawing from the University of Georgia's Lamar Dodd School of Art, 1999
  • M.A. in Arts Administration from Columbia University, Teacher's College, 2002
  • Alumnus, SC Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities
  • Alumnus, Fine Arts Center
​
Continuing Education:
  • Oil painting classes, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, ongoing
  • Workshop in pastel, Cuong Nguyen, MidAtlantic Pastel Society, Spring 2022
  • Workshop in pastel, Christine Swann, Spring 2023
  • Workshop in oil, Sandra Sanchez, Portrait Society of Atlanta, Fall 2023

Exhibits:
  • Member exhibit, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, 2023
  • Greenville Open Studios participant, Metropolitan Arts Council, 2023
  • Member exhibit, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, 2022

Work:
  • Owner/Artist, Mary Adam Art Studio, 2020-present
  • Development Director, South Carolina Children's Theatre, 2014-2020
  • Owner/Consultant, Mary Adam Nonprofit Consulting,
    2009-2017
  • Development Director, Children's Museum of the Upstate, 2007-2009
  • Founding Executive Director, Artisphere, 2002-2007
  • Senior Administrator, Christie's Auction House, NYC, 2000-2002
  • Gallery Assistant, Hubert Gallery, NYC 1999-2000​

Affiliations/Volunteer work:
  • Board of Directors: Greenville Gay Men's Chorus, 2021-2022
  • Deacon, First Baptist Church Greenville, 2019-2021
  • Grants panelist, Metropolitan Arts Council, 2008, 2011, 2015
  • City of Greenville's Arts in Public Places Commission, 2003-2007
  • Leadership Greenville Class 33
  • Junior League of Greenville, Sustainer

​Memberships:
  • Portrait Society of Atlanta
  • Pastel Society of South Carolina
  • Portrait Society of America
  • Greenville Center for Creative Arts
  • Metropolitan Arts Council