2026 Artist: MaryKatherine Riley

As Arts Marathon artists we will send a different example of our creative process and work to everyone who sponsors us, 3-5 days per week during April. We invite our friends, family, colleagues and anyone else who cares about art and wants to support Bridge to Rutland’s important work to sponsor us. Together we will help welcome new Americans who, in turn, will add immeasurably to our communities.

MaryKatherine‘s Arts Marathon Goal

During the artist marathon, I will be working on various multimedia projects. My main medium will be sculpture, but I also like to incorporate needle felting and painting into my work. I will carry you through my process of how I create an armature from initial sketches, all the way through to a finished piece. I’ll also be sharing some behind the scenes looks at previously completed work.

MaryKatherine‘s Background

Making art has been a part of who I am from the very beginning. As soon as I was able to hold a pencil, I could be found drawing obsessively or wrapped in some other type of creative project.

I love trying new mediums. I have painted, tried nearly every drawing medium I could get my hands on, needle felted, learned to edit video, dabbled in photoshop, and, most recently, learned to crochet. I like to utilize my hodgepodge of knowledge in the arts to create amateurs, miniature sets, and would eventually like to incorporate my creations into an animation.

I have a background in traditional drawing and spent my first year of College at Maine College of Art. Seeking something different, I switched coasts and ended up graduating from California Institute of the Arts in 2015.

During my time in California, I became a bit more rebellious in my pursuits and broke from traditional thinking, reverting back into childlike curiosity and nurturing a need for experimentation. I was influenced by the movie scene out in Los Angeles and began creating these doll-sized characters and environments for them to live in.

If I were to describe my work in a few words, it would be fantastical, obscure, and kind of ridiculous. I am greatly inspired by nature and am a big proponent of 1980s fantasy and horror films. The more makeshift and rudimentary the practical effects, the better.

I’m drawn to participate in the Arts Marathon because I believe the work that Bridge to Rutland is doing is extremely admirable and important. I feel that every person on this earth deserves to have a safe, happy, and comfortable life, and I think it’s incredible that the people within this organization dedicate their time to helping people who need this support. To me, this is an extremely noble pursuit and a bright light in this world that can often seem bleak and unkind. It is an honor to participate in their compassionate efforts and to contribute to empowering those searching for a better life.

In addition to being able to support a great cause, I am currently preparing for an exhibition in October of this year at Kaleidoscope Art Supply in Rutland. Participating in the Arts Marathon will be a great motivation to hunker down and create some pieces. Can’t wait to share my work with you!

Find MaryKatherine online

Art Samples