ABOUT MAGGIE
Hi! I'm Maggie.
My compositions are built from an interplay of texture, color, and line—elements that serve as emotional architecture. My work has shifted from representational art to abstract impressionism, guided not by critique, but by instinct plus forty years of artistic discipline.
I have been painting for 40 years with love and care and a dedication to creating something exciting!
I am a contemporary impressionist who translates untold stories into living moments on canvas. For instance, when I see rain cutting a path on the windshield, a flower trembling, a cloud taking wing, or a causeway defying Mother Nature’s logic, I want to make people stop and really look at them.
I work primarily in acrylic for its immediacy and responsiveness. The medium makes room for my spontaneous outbursts while allowing me the contemplative pauses I need to process and reflect. By pausing, I am allowing the painting itself to speak to me because it has a way of revealing its own direction. Each canvas has its own dialogue between intuition and design.
My lifelong urge to paint began in the 1950s with catalysts like the mid-century modern illustrations I absorbed in Ford Times magazines, the minimalist watercolor and line art in children’s books, and the gesture art that was the heartbeat of early comic books. I loved it all! For me, the fact that anyone could sketch a whole crowd of people using just a bunch of ovals left me reeling in awe! The impetus that finally sent me into an art career was my first encounter with Degas’ etchings. I was drawn (pun intended!) to the rhythm and restraint that is required to create a photographic likeness using simple black lines. As my art education advanced, it was the raw vitality of the Fauvists and Abstract Expressionists that echoed in my spirit’s bones.
My practice is organized around evolving series, each born when a subject starts curiously popping around in my imagination. The Umbrella Series explores shelter and symbolism; the Shed Series emerged from the stark chiaroscuro of utilitarian space; Road Trip captures the meditative monotony of travel. Ongoing collections are Abstract Flowers, Blue Angels, Black and White Minimalism, and the newly launched 2025 Colors.
My work is held in private collections and continues to evolve in dialogue with the environment and emotions that inspire it. Each piece is an invitation—to feel, to reflect, and to connect.
I welcome commissions of any size.
ARTIST BIO
If you ask me why I paint,” Maggie says, “I can’t not paint. I see compositions every time I open my eyes.”
Four Decades of Vision
For more than forty years, Maggie Clark has turned her visions into arresting works of art for design-savvy collectors who want their interiors to vibrate with personality and to spark conversation.
Her career encompasses solo exhibitions, prestigious awards, representation in galleries, recognition by juried societies, workshop instruction, leadership within art leagues, and publications of limited edition prints.
An Artist in Motion
Maggie studied art throughout the Southeast, taking courses at colleges and learning from mentors like Skip Lawrence, Bill Mangum, Vera Dickerson, and Bob Burridge as she moved with her husband’s job. In Martinsville, Virginia, she became a go-to for architectural renderings of homes and historic landmarks. She published limited edition prints including the Greensboro Historical Prints and others.
In 2000, when life asked her to disappear into caregiving and grief, Maggie turned to acrylics for emotional release. She began painting florals with unapologetic strokes, textures that bite, and colors that refused to be sad. Upon her husband’s death, she moved to Pensacola and her art journey hit a new frontier.
An Artist in Bloom
Now rooted in Pensacola, Maggie refuses to stand still. She participates in plein air and portrait groups. Her artistic journey has leapt into compositional abstraction, where color theory takes center stage. She splashes vibrant color accents into today’s popular soft neutral palettes. She explores minimalism using black, white and monotones. And she lets her inner lion roar its way into her maximalist paintings drenched in clashing colors and thick, expressive impasto.
The Pensacola Chapter
From Pensacola to homes across the Southeast, Maggie Clark’s art continues to dare its viewers to linger longer, to see differently, to live fully. Her work has been represented at Luna Fine Art Gallery, Artel Gallery, Eastern Shore Art Center, and Quayside Gallery. She welcomes commissions.
What Draws Collectors In:
Maggie’s paintings are more than décor.
Each piece offers:
Conversation-starting art for gatherings
Large-scale impact pieces that anchor a room
A timeless aesthetic with a contemporary edge
An invitation to engage, linger, and live fully
Explore her work at www.artbymaggie.com
ARTIST CV
EDUCATION
BA in Business Administration, Meredith College, Raleigh NC, 1970
ART TRAINING
Various acrylic workshops at Palette Productions, Pensacola FL 2020-2025
Bob Burridge acrylic workshops in Pensacola and Mexico, 2024-2025
Acrylic workshop, Scottsdale AZ 2020
Group watercolor courses, Vera Dickerson, Roanoke VA 1993-2000
Various community sponsored art classes in and around Martinsville VA, 1990-1999
Skip Lawrence workshops, Greensboro NC, 1994-1999
NC State University, Perspective drawing, Raleigh NC, 1995
Springmaid, Myrtle Beach SC, watercolor and collage design workshops, 1994
Greensboro Technical Institute – Composition and design, drawing, art history, computer design, Greensboro NC, 1991-92
NC State University, Raleigh NC, perspective drawing 1990
UNC Greensboro, Greensboro NC, Figure drawing, 1986
St. Louis Community College, classes in drawing, color theory, composition, design, St. Louis MO, 1985-1986
Watercolor instruction, private classes with Bill Mangum, Raleigh NC 1981
CURRENT GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
Artel Gallery, Pensacola FL
Eastern Shore Art Center, Fairhope, AL
J Harold Smith Studio/Art Gallery, Greensboro, NC
Luna Fine Art Gallery, The Hilton at Pensacola Beach FL, 2024 and 2025 juried exhibits
PAST MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Virginia Watercolor Society (Approx 1990-2000)
North Carolia Watercolor Society
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, NC
Greensboro Artists League, Greensboro NC
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Perspective drawing, Charleston SC, 2001
Perspective drawing, Wilkes Art Gallery, Wilkesboro NC, 2000
House Portraits, Reynolda Homestead, Critz VA, 2000
Docent for the NC Museum of Art, Raleigh NC, 1982
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Reorganized the Wilkesboro Art Leage, North Wilkesboro NC, 1999
President of the Wilkesboro Art Leage, North Wilkesboro NC, 1999-2000
Held office in Piedmont Art Gallery, Martinsville VA, 1991-1999
ILLUSTRATED PUBLICATIONS
Wrote and illustrated “Taking Life Not Too Seriously – A Woman, a Quirky Mouse Named Hugh, and a Life a Half Bubble Off Center, Just Like the Rest of Us” – published 2017
PRINT PUBLICATIONS
Greensboro Historical Prints - signed, numbered prints from five paintings of historic Greensboro NC, published in collaboration with J. Harold Smith Studio and Collectors Gallery in Greensboro NC, painted and published between 1993 and 1998
INVITED TALKS
Northwest Artists League, Wilkesboro NC, 2000
Brush and Palette Art League, Lenoir NC, 2000
Docents at Piedmont Arts Association, Martinsville VA, 1998
Christian Women’s Club, Martinsville VA, 1997
Henry County Courthouse, Martinsville VA
Jails of Henry County, Martinsville VA
Patrick Henry Community College campus buildings, Martinsville VA
Historic sites in Blowing Rock NC, published around 1995
Martinsville “Then and Now” prints, 1994
Historic sites in Kenansville NC, published around 1990
AWARDS
First Place 9/2000, NC Dept of Commerce, Main Street Center, “Celebrating Place,” New Ber NC, Christmas Parade 1960
Third Place 4/2000, Northwest Artists’ League competition, Wilkesboro NC, My Beautiful Balloon
Merit Award 10/99, Watercolor Society of NC, Mother and Child
Second Place 6/99, Wilkes Festival in the Gardens, Red Blossoms
Merit Award 6/99, Lynwood Artists Member Show, Ichthys
Honorable Mention 4/99, AAWS Juried Show “Dimensions”, Winston-Salem NC, Gently Tapping
Honorable Mention 9/98, Foot of Hills Show, Martinsville VA, Rocky
Merit Award 9/97, Foot of Hills Show, Geranium’s Eye View
Merit Award 6/97, Lynwood Artists Member Show, Summer Sounds
Honorable Mention 6/96, Lynwood Artists Member Show, The Captain
Merit Award 3/96, Danville Art League Member Show, Sag Harbor Yacht Club
Third Place 2/96, Greensboro Artists League Juried Show, Christmas Parade
Merit Award 6/95, Lynwood Artists Member Show, Couch Sweet Potato
Award of Distinction 4/95, Jeb Stuart Art Exhibit, Floating Still Life
First Place Watercolor 4/95, Mount Airy Art League Show, Couch Sweet Potato
Merit Award 10/94, Foot of Hills Show, Martinsville VA, Patrick Pond
Merit Award & Purchase Award 6/94, Lynwood Artists Member Show, Splish Splash
Best in Show 4/94, Mount Airy Art League, Porch Rails in Danville
Honorable Mention 4/94,l Mount Airy Art League, The Gossips
Honorable Mention 4/94, Jeb Stuart Art Show, Patrick Co. Library, Video Fever
First Place 3/94, Danville Art League Member Show, Patrick Pond
Third Place 7/93, Danville Art League Summer Select, Danville Houses
Honorable Mention 6/93, Lynwood Artists Member Show, Sittin’ on the Steps
Third Place 2/93, Danville Art League Member Show, Sittin’ on the Steps
People’s Choice and Award of Merit 2/93, Danville Art League Member Show, Grey Lady
JURIED SHOWS – REGIONAL AND NATIONAL
Watercolor Society of North Carolina: 54th in 1999 juried by Frank Francese; 55th in 2000 juried by Joseph Fettingis, NWS
Virginia Watercolor Society 16th, 19th, and 20th Juried Exhibitions, 1995 in Farmville, juried by Ann Salisbury; 1998 in Portsmouth, juried by Polly Hammett; and 1999 in Salem, juried by Arne Westerman
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem national competition, “Dimensions ‘99”, juried bySandra J. Reed of Savannah College of Art and Design
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem national competition “Painting in General”, juried by Bob White, 10/96
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem national competition “Southeastern Spectrum”, juried by Robert Hobbs, 5/96
Juried exchange, Greensboro NC and Knoxville TN, “Summer Salon”, juried by Carlette Peters and Henry Link, 1996
Associated Artists of Winston-Salem national competition, “Dimensions ‘96”,
Danville Art League Juried Exhibition, Danville VA 1993 and 1995
New River Art ’95, Radford College, Radford VA, juried by Phyllis Rosenzweig, Hirshhorn Museum
League of Roanoke Artists, traveling show, 1993
SOLO SHOWS
Featured exhibition in Patrick & Henry Community College in Martinsville, VA
Featured exhibition at United Way of Willkes County, North Wilkesboro NC, 2000
Greensboro Historical Prints on loan at the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Greensboro NC, 2000
Two-person featured exhibition at Wilkes Art Gallery, North Wilkesboro NC, 2000
Limited edition print signing at Village of Art Arts and Antiques, Blowing Rock NC, 2000
Solo exhibition at Duplin County Arts Council, Kenansville NC, 1995
Solo exhibition at Danville Library, Danville VA 1994
Three-person exhibition at Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, 1994
Solo exhibition, Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville VA, 1994
Featured exhibit at Crestar Bank, Martinsville, VA 1994
SELECTED EXHIBITION HISTORY
Wilkes Gallery, North Wilkesboro NC 1999-2001
erl Originals, Winston Salem NC, 1996-2000
Artworks Gallery, Winston Salem, NC, 1995-2000
Arts Council, Winston-Salem NC, “A Twist on Tradition”, 1999
Babcock Graduate School, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC, group show curated by Amy Funderburkl, 1999
Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, “Holiday Showcase”, seven regional artists, curated by Lyn Bjarnesen, 1998
Danville Art League, Danville, VA, “Summer Select,” 1997
Greensboro Artists’ League Member Juried Show, Greensboro NC, juried by Jeff Fleming, 1997
The Little Art Gallery, Raleigh NC, 1997
AAWS Exhibiting Member 4th Invitational Exhibit at Winston-Salem Arts Council Boardroom, 1996
Danvile Museum of Fine Arts and History, three-person show, “Three from Southside” 1994
Danville Library, private show of pen and ink work, 1994
COLLECTIONS
Concert hall at Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
Greensboro Historical Museum, Greensboro NC
Faison and Gillespie Law Firm, Durham NC
Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke VA
The Meadowbrook Inn, Blowing Rock NC
COMMISSIONS
House Portraits for Joyce Turner awards sponsored by Pensacola’s North Hill Preservation Association
Abstract impressionist paintings of Seychelle Islands commissioned by a private collector
House Portrait of “The Grey Lady”, historical home in Martinsville
Pen and ink architectural rendering of the Henry County Courthouse in Martinsville, VA
Pen and ink architectural rendering of buildings at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, VA
Hundreds of commissioned house portraits
Numerous commissions of pets and children
PRESS
Watauga Mountain Times, Boone NC, 2004
Greensboro News and Record, several between 1993 and 2001
Wilkes Journal-Patriot in Wilkesboro, NC in 2000
The Village Scene, Blowing Rock, 2000
The Record, North Wilkesboro NC, 2000
The Duplin Times, Kenansville NC, 1995
Martinsville Bulletin, Martinsville VA, 1994
The Enterprise, Stewart VA, 1994
Danville Register and Bee, Danville VA, 1994
Signed, original paintings
Free shipping in the US
Commissions are welcome
Contact me!
* to discuss a commission
*to inquire about the availability of prints
*to receive emails when there is a sale
maggie.clark@artbymaggie.com
(850) 888-8666 10:00am-6:00pm Central Time