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About Marilyn Wells

I am an American visionary artist whose paintings explore the mystery of being—our relationship to the visible world, the unseen dimensions of existence, and the ever-present Origin from which life emerges. Through my work, I seek to evoke moments of stillness, wonder, and a sense of belonging within a larger, interconnected whole.

My oil and cold wax paintings explore transparency and the interplay of light and shadow through vibrant hues. Figures, vessels, portals, and layered forms emerge and dissolve, suggesting the diaphanous nature of our existence. In my mountain landscapes, the natural world itself becomes a threshold between the visible and unseen. Although these paintings speak through different visual languages, they arise from the same essential vision.

In my Meditations in Ink, I begin with the quiet movement of the brush, allowing form to emerge from the openness of the paper. Poetry, prose, music, and meditation often enter my creative process, inviting a deeper way of seeing beyond the purely analytical mind. Throughout my work, I seek to make room for the mysterious, the intuitive, and the unexpected.

My artistic journey has unfolded over a lifetime of painting, teaching, and contemplative inquiry. With a PhD and an M.Ed. in Art Education, I have worked across oil and cold wax, watercolor, sumi ink, and figurative sculpture. My work has been exhibited and recognized nationally and internationally.

Above all, I hope my paintings offer viewers an invitation: to look beyond appearances, discover something of their own inner experience, and sense the deeper presence that moves through all life.