Mary Porter lives in the Boulevard neighborhood of Athens, Georgia: a vibrant, dynamic, and eclectic area that inspires her paintings. Her intention is to preserve a bit of Athens history, as well as have a little fun too.

In Daily Groceries #2" (acrylic on canvas, 40" x 60", 2015), Porter captures the essence of the Athens, GA favorite Daily Groceries Co-Op. Daily is Athens' only community-owned grocery store, opened in 1992 and operating as a cooperative since 2000. It's a welcoming place, and a beacon of goodness that constantly nourishes a kind, engaged community. This Porter painting is a wonderful representation of the one common theme throughout all her work - the concept of home.

Mary earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Art from the University of Georgia, where she later taught painting and color theory classes. She has received a National Foundation for the Arts Regional fellowship and Georgia Council for the Arts grants. Her nationally exhibited watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings are represented in numerous public and private collections, including King and Spalding, Atlanta, GA; Department of Labor, Washington, DC; and in Athens: Clarke County Courthouse, the Classic Center, the University of Georgia, and Morris Communications Building. Porter's work has appeared in media publications such as the Georgia Review, The New Art Examiner, Art Papers, Athens Magazine, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.