Artistic portfolio
Biography
Mari Saxon (real name Maria Sakson), fine art photographer, architect.
Mari was born in Moscow and lived in Russia until 2022, when she was compelled to relocate to Massachusetts, USA. By education and profession, she has been an architect for over 25 years. In her youth, she bought a semi-professional camera and spent about 20 years as a mediocre amateur photographer in her free time. But in 2022 she discovered fine art photography, and within the first year, she achieved some success. In new country, Mari left architecture and dedicated herself to photography, which became her profession and passion.
Education
2024 Photography school of Natalya Zhukova online
2022-2024 Photography school Marusina Masterskaya online
2019-2021 Photography school Tsekh, course of Sergey Maximishin "Photographer as a Storyteller", Moscow Russia
2020 Alena Zhukova "Intro to Pro-Photo" online
1994-2000 Moscow State Architectural Academy MFA Architecture, Moscow Russia
1987-1994 Moscow State Children Art School #5, Moscow Russia
Honors
2024
  • IPA International Photography Award finalist (Self Portrait Category, single image)
  • HIPA finalist (B&W Category, single image)
  • Critical Mass Photolucida TOP 200 (project)
  • Emerging photographer of the Hamburg Portfolio Review (project)
  • URBAN Photo Awards semifinalist (Streets category, single image)
  • Belfast Photo Festival shortlisted (project)
  • Fine Art Photography Awards FAPA nominee (Portrait category, single image)
  • Fine Art Photography Awards FAPA nominee (Conceptual category, project)
2023
  • Russian Photo Awards Top 100 (single image)
  • All-Russian Festival of Black and White Photography Fotostrelka nominee (single image)
  • All-Russian Photo Project of Childhood finalist (single image)
2019
  • Grant for learning course of Sergey Maximishin “Photographer as a Storyteller”
Press
2024
What Will You Remember Review "Griffin Museum 30th Annual Juried Members Exhibition" by Elin Spring
Exhibitions

ON VIEW

UPCOMING

  • Sep 10 - Oct 3, 2024 - "Rozenman/Saxon/Lim Exhibition" at Hopkinton Arts Center, Hopkinton MA USA
  • Sep 13 - Oct 17, 2024 "2024 MARY SCHEIN FALL SALON" at Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Cambridge MA USA
  • Oct 24 - Nov 3, 2024 - "11th edition of Trieste Photo Days" - International Festival of Photography, Trieste, Italy
  • Nov 14 - Dec 15, 2024 - "Small Works" - ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA USA
  • Jan 16 - Feb 16, 2025 - "Artists Shoeboxes" at ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA USA

PAST

2024

  • "12th Annual One" at ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA USA
  • "Third Biennale of Black and White Photography MFamilia" in St. Petersburg, Russia
  • "30th Annual Members Exhibition" at Griffin Museum, Winchester MA USA
  • "100 Photographers to Watch" at Superlative Gallery, Bali Indonesia
  • "Cinematic Theme" at Panopticon Gallery, Boston MA USA
  • "View Finder" at ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA USA
  • "Lavish: Gallery Edition", Tenafly NJ USA
  • "Art For Life" Helsinki XR Center, Helsinki, Finland
  • "Portrait: Self and Others" at PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury VT USA
  • "Dreams And Nightmares" at Boomer Gallery, London UK
  • "Together" at Warehouse X, Sommerville MA USA

2023

  • "Let Me Be A Child", S.Petersburg Russia
  • "Fotostrelka" Festival of B&W Photography, Borovsk Russia
  • "Scaled Down" ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA USA
  • "The Eleventh Annual One" at ArtsWorcester Gallery, Worcester MA USA
  • "FAM's 87th Regional Exhibition" at Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg MA USA
Artist Statement
of Mari Saxon, photographer, artist, architect.
I always adore noticing the absurdity, surrealism in the everyday, as if reality lifts the edge of its curtain for me, and through this gap, I see the backstage of the scenery. It amuses, entertains, and astonishes me. Equally, I always observe the unnoticed unusual, individual facets in people around me. The intricacy of each person, the diversity of people fascinates me, and when I notice something special, I can't wait to capture it with my camera.

Gradually, I started creating an absurd reality in my photographs: my attic turns into a fairy-tale world, my models stand on their heads in high heeled boots, and me myself turn into multifaceted mythical figure in self-portraits.

My works are surreal, symbolic, fabulous, often absurd. At the same time, my photographs do not impose their own narrative, there is no obvious plot. Everyone can see their own story in them. And every interpretation pleases and surprises me. The most stirring goal for me is to engage the viewer in a dialogue through my art.
PROJECTS
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