Mary Oros American
Mary Oros is an American sculptor based in Oakland, California, whose free-standing sculptures are inspired by movement in nature, dance, and the expressive language of the human body. Working intuitively, she begins each piece by "drawing in space" with an armature, allowing the form to evolve organically rather than following a predetermined plan.
Through a meticulous process of constructing the armature and applying successive layers of concrete, Oros creates sculptures that are both structurally refined and visually fluid. Her works are designed to be experienced in the round, revealing a continuous sense of movement and expression from every viewpoint. The finished surfaces, whether matte, lightly waxed, or painted, enhance the tactile qualities of each sculpture. Oros's practice reflects a deep interest in the relationship between material, gesture, and emotion, resulting in works that embody both physical presence and poetic abstraction.
Oros studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1975 and earned a BFA in Sculpture from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1977. Her work has been exhibited at the de Young Museum, Marin MOCA, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Grounds For Sculpture, and Art Market San Francisco, among numerous Bay Area venues. Her sculpture is included in the permanent collection of Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, as well as in several notable private collections.
SOLO EXHIBITION
2003 Atrium 505 Sansome Street,“Sculpture by Mary Oros,” San Francisco, CAGROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Pence Gallery, “Slice”, Davis, CA
2026 Arts Benicia, “Making Your Mark”, Benicia, CA
2026 Epperson Gallery, “From the Heart”, Crockett, CA
2024 Arts Benicia, “Exploring Monochromatic”, Benicia, CA
2024 NY2CA Gallery, “Gestural Space”: Mary Oros & Paula Boas , Benicia, CA
2023 The deYoung Museum, “The deYoung Open 2023”, San Francisco, CA
2023 Marin MOCA, “There Is Magic Here”, Novato, CA
2023 Desta Gallery, “Rooted In Wonder”, Mill Valley, CA
2023 Desta Gallery, “Capturing the Ephemeral Beauty”, Mill Valley, CA
2022 di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, “True North”, Napa, CA
2022 Blue Line Arts, “Crocker/Kingsley”, Roseville, CA
2022 Gallery 825, “Open Show”, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Epperson Gallery, “On The Strait”, Crockett, CA
2022 Art Market San Francisco, Desta Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
2022 Desta Gallery, “Solace”, Mill Valley, CA
2021 Marin MOCA, “ConVERGEnce”, Novato, CA
2021 Desta Gallery, “Shifting Directions”, Mill Valley, CA
2021 The Visionary Art Projects (NY, NY), virtual exhibition: “ The Era of Change”
2020 Desta Gallery, “Beyond”, Mill Valley, CA
2019 Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery’s JP@The Bank, “Tahoe Blue” show, Lafayette, CA
2018 Coda Gallery, "New Artist Group Show", Palm Desert, CA
2018 Art San Diego, Booth #317, Wyland Center, Del Mar, CA
2014 Gallery 621, "Guests of the Gallery", Benicia, CA
2012 Gallery 621, "From the Arsenal and Beyond", Benicia, CA
2010 Sacramento State University Library Gallery, “As They See It”, Sacramento, CA
2008 Arts Benicia Gallery, “Affinities and Variations,” Mary Oros & William Harsh, Benicia, C A
2008 A New Leaf Gallery, “Spring Show,” Sonoma, CA
2007 Arts Benicia Gallery, “Art of a Community,” Benicia, CA
2006 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 Grounds For Sculpture, “New Additions Outdoors, Spring/Summer,” Hamilton, NJ
2004 Grounds For Sculpture, “Off The Rim: Pacific Rim Sculptors,” Hamilton, NJ
2004 Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, Winter Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
2004 Taking The Leap Group Exhibition, Emeryville, CA
2003 Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, Fall Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
2003 Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, Summer Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
EDUCATION
1977 Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA Sculpture
1975 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
PUBLICATIONS
December 2022, Artiste Culture Online Blog, ‘5 Sculptors Who Are Redefining Sculpting’
May 2017, Benicia Magazine ,'Concrete Couture' - A Fitting Description for Artist Mary Oros' Work’
AWARDS
2026 Honorable Mention, Epperson Gallery “From the Heart” exhibit
2023 Honorable Mention, Sheridan Prize, San Francisco Bay Area
2022 81st Crocker Kingsley Exhibition, 3rd Place Award
2021 Honorable Mention, Marin MOCA “ConVERGEnce” exhibit
1977 Agnes Gund Award, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH
1975 Purchase Prize, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
PUBLIC COLLECTION
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Medivation, San Francisco, CA
Mrs. Suzanne Narducci, Los Gatos, CA
Marcia Barrow Taylor, Lafayette, CA
Dan Jensen & Gene Doherty, Benicia, CA
SOLO EXHIBITION
2003 Atrium 505 Sansome Street,“Sculpture by Mary Oros,” San Francisco, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Pence Gallery, “Slice”, Davis, CA
2026 Arts Benicia, “Making Your Mark”, Benicia, CA
2026 Epperson Gallery, “From the Heart”, Crockett, CA
2024 Arts Benicia, “Exploring Monochromatic”, Benicia, CA
2024 NY2CA Gallery, “Gestural Space”: Mary Oros & Paula Boas , Benicia, CA
2023 The deYoung Museum, “The deYoung Open 2023”, San Francisco, CA
2023 Marin MOCA, “There Is Magic Here”, Novato, CA
2023 Desta Gallery, “Rooted In Wonder”, Mill Valley, CA
2023 Desta Gallery, “Capturing the Ephemeral Beauty”, Mill Valley, CA
2022 di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, “True North”, Napa, CA
2022 Blue Line Arts, “Crocker/Kingsley”, Roseville, CA
2022 Gallery 825, “Open Show”, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Epperson Gallery, “On The Strait”, Crockett, CA
2022 Art Market San Francisco, Desta Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
2022 Desta Gallery, “Solace”, Mill Valley, CA
2021 Marin MOCA, “ConVERGEnce”, Novato, CA
2021 Desta Gallery, “Shifting Directions”, Mill Valley, CA
2021 The Visionary Art Projects (NY, NY), virtual exhibition: “ The Era of Change”
2020 Desta Gallery, “Beyond”, Mill Valley, CA
2019 Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery’s JP@The Bank, “Tahoe Blue” show, Lafayette, CA
2018 Coda Gallery, "New Artist Group Show", Palm Desert, CA
2018 Art San Diego, Booth #317, Wyland Center, Del Mar, CA
2014 Gallery 621, "Guests of the Gallery", Benicia, CA
2012 Gallery 621, "From the Arsenal and Beyond", Benicia, CA
2010 Sacramento State University Library Gallery, “As They See It”, Sacramento, CA
2008 Arts Benicia Gallery, “Affinities and Variations,” Mary Oros & William Harsh, Benicia, C A
2008 A New Leaf Gallery, “Spring Show,” Sonoma, CA
2007 Arts Benicia Gallery, “Art of a Community,” Benicia, CA
2006 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 Grounds For Sculpture, “New Additions Outdoors, Spring/Summer,” Hamilton, NJ
2004 Grounds For Sculpture, “Off The Rim: Pacific Rim Sculptors,” Hamilton, NJ
2004 Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, Winter Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
2004 Taking The Leap Group Exhibition, Emeryville, CA
2003 Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, Fall Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
2003 Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, Summer Exhibition, San Francisco, CA
EDUCATION
1977 Cleveland Institute of Art, BFA Sculpture
1975 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
PUBLICATIONS
December 2022, Artiste Culture Online Blog, ‘5 Sculptors Who Are Redefining Sculpting’
May 2017, Benicia Magazine ,'Concrete Couture' - A Fitting Description for Artist Mary Oros' Work’
AWARDS
2026 Honorable Mention, Epperson Gallery “From the Heart” exhibit
2023 Honorable Mention, Sheridan Prize, San Francisco Bay Area
2022 81st Crocker Kingsley Exhibition, 3rd Place Award
2021 Honorable Mention, Marin MOCA “ConVERGEnce” exhibit
1977 Agnes Gund Award, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH
1975 Purchase Prize, Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
PUBLIC COLLECTION
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Medivation, San Francisco, CA
Mrs. Suzanne Narducci, Los Gatos, CA
Marcia Barrow Taylor, Lafayette, CA
Dan Jensen & Gene Doherty, Benicia, CA
