work on paper
Artist Statement
Marian Purviance
Marian Purviance, a native of Philadelphia, grew up in Somerset County, New Jersey, graduated from St. George's School, in Newport, Rhode Island, and earned her BA at Sarah Lawrence College in 1983 in Fine Art and Languages. After living in Italy for 18 months as a painting student in Florence, Italy, Purviance returned to Rhode Island in 1984 and has lived in Providence ever since. She began her career as the owner of Prime Coat--creating one-of-a-kind painted furnishings for private clients throughout New England. In 1999 she began working as a consultant with numerous nonprofit organizations and other key players in helping to establish Providence to be what it is considered today--"America's Renaissance City." She also divided her time as a freelance graphic designer and most importantly as a mother to her 2 children. In 2004 Purviance returned to her true calling--as an artist--and now works from her home studio creating paintings and works on paper. In 2007 she had her first solo exhibition in Middletown, Rhode Island. Her work is also in numerous private collections and has been shown in selected group exhibitions.