Mary Coss
Mary Coss is an interdisciplinary artist known for her haunting installations that provide commentary on the human condition. Born in Detroit, she received her MFA from Syracuse University, Dept. of Experimental Studios. This hybrid sculpture and media department introduced a life-long interest in layering social relevance with sculpture, projection and sound. Coss re-contextualizes common artifacts to explore issues of identity, memory, and social justice. Her public work includes commissions and socially engaged practices.
Recognized through awards and grants by the NEA, Ford and Puffin Foundations, Artist Trust, 4Culture and the ACLU, her extensive exhibition record includes several northwest museums and an international profile. Research, interviews and travel are integral to her process. This includes a cultural exchange with Candyland Arts in Stockholm, workshops in Turkey and Guatemala, and residencies in Ireland and throughout the US. She actively curates and is a cofounder of METHOD Gallery, CASA rape crisis center, a public art program teaching youth employable skills, and Borealis Light Festival.
Artist Support Program 2020: Timbre Lines: a sound piece which incorporates water, interviews, Whulshootseed language, and sounds of a working mill to accompany a large sculpture.
