Painter Mary Vernon exerted a broad influence over generations of artists throughout her 50-year career as a professor at Southern Methodist University, a period that coincided with countless exhibitions of her work. Not having slowed down at all since her retirement, Vernon now shows several dozen paintings from the last couple of years in the sylvan, meditative setting of Valley House, far from the bustle of the Design District gallery scene.
Mary Vernon, “Sun and Shade,” 2025, oil on Yupo, 40 x 52 inches (diptych)
Teresa Rafidi
Vernon’s way with vivid color accents (whether electric green, shimmering gold or florid magenta) arrests a viewer’s roving eye and compels moments of focused attention, while the suggestive, allusive composition of her landscape scenes gives them a feeling of fairytale enchantment. Meanwhile, her fondness for charming animals will appeal to fans of Paul Klee and Marc Chagall, as well as of East Asian painting.
The level of sustained creativity in Vernon’s show is remarkable — it’s hard to find a repeated idea or creative shortcut anywhere in the long list of works.
Details
“Mary Vernon: Paintings” continues through Jan. 10 at Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden, 6616 Spring Valley Road, Dallas. Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed for the holidays from Dec. 24 to 28 and on Jan. 1. Free. 972-239-2441. valleyhouse.com.
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