Biography
Mary Lynn studied fine art and linguistics at the University of Saskatchewan and earned a BFA in Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing from NSCAD University in 2012. She maintains a studio practice in Saskatoon, SK, integrating her passion for art and her fascination with linguistics.
Mary Lynn has exhibited her work nationally and internationally. She won the Canadian National Jewellery Student Competition (Ottawa, ON) in 2012 and was the Saskatchewan representative in the exhibition The Canadian Mosaic of Metal (Toronto, ON) in 2013. That same year, she won a student NICHE Award (Washington, DC) for her teapot ‘Metalanguage’, which was acquired during SOFA Chicago 2015 by the Kamm Teapot Foundation, the world's largest teapot collection. She received a professional 2015 NICHE Award in the wedding jewellery category with her engagement ring ‘Infinite’, and was selected as a finalist in 2016. Her work has been juried into four biennial Dimensions exhibitions hosted by the Saskatchewan Craft Council, and has received awards for Excellence in Production and Functional Ware in 2013, Excellence in Fine Craft in 2015, and Innovation in Craft in 2019. At the 2019 Saskatchewan Arts Awards Mary Lynn was named the recipient of the prestigious RBC Emerging Artist Award. In addition to many private collections, her work can be found in the Saskatchewan Arts Board’s Permanent Collection and the estate of Carrie Fisher.
Artist Statement
Viewing natural objects through perspectives of speech and sound, I create conceptual jewellery and holloware that is sensual and graceful. My work alludes to aspects of language through anatomical and organic forms, linguistic textures and acoustic representations, exploring the relationship between communication and artistic interpretation. Elements of surprise are introduced in the pieces I create, their presence inviting the viewer to investigate the work closely. Appealing colour and texture catch the eye, but expectations are challenged upon closer inspection as details reveal themselves.
I bring a foundation of traditional goldsmithing to a contemporary space by exploring alternative materials and techniques which I have adapted and refined through continuous self-directed experimentation. Precious metals, gemstones and resilient yet glass-like resin and silicone come together to create an interplay of light and colour between lustrous surfaces and vibrant transparency. The result is sculptural, expressive work that speaks to the viewer, whether on the body or on display.