Mary Royall Wilgis | Contemporary Painting and Light Art

Mary Royall Wilgis is a contemporary light painter and multimedia artist currently living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in the exploration of how light shapes physical space, defines color, and measures the passage of time. A graduate of the University of Virginia with a background in English Language and Literature and Architecture, Mary Royall Wilgis brings a poetic and structural understanding to her visual work. She is well-known for her "light foraging" process, where she takes raw canvas into the street to capture the ephemeral compositions created by light filtering through trees and architecture. This initial imprint is later refined in her studio using a combination of Flashe ink, oil paint, and sculptural layers of hand-cut translucent mesh or tulle. These materials interact with present light sources, giving her paintings a distinct three-dimensional quality that shifts depending on the viewer's environment. Her work often references philosophical concepts such as Plato's Allegory of the Cave and artistic movements like Light and Space. Mary Royall Wilgis has exhibited her work internationally, with representation in galleries across Paris, New York, and Charleston. Her portfolio includes original oil on canvas works, large-scale installations, and a dedicated collection of prints. By merging the mechanical capture of light with expressive painting techniques, Mary Royall Wilgis creates serene and meditative spaces that invite viewers to pause and observe the subtle nuances of their surroundings.