Nancy Mayhew received her BA in art from Pomona College in 1956; an MA in art education from California State University Los Angeles in 1973; and an MA in art therapy from Immaculate Heart College in 1977. She worked as a clinical art therapist in hospitals and agencies in Southern California before opening a private practice in South Pasadena in 1985. After retiring from her work as an art therapist she entered California State University Long Beach to pursue an MFA in painting and drawing, graduating in May 2010. Her work has been shown at The Loft in San Pedro, the University Art Museum at California State University Long Beach, The Pacific Design Center and at Long Beach Arts Gallery. To be back in the studio is very rewarding for her!

Mayhew's paintings in oil on canvas feature spaces (body spaces, earth spaces, watery spaces, sky spaces and dwellings). These spaces contain forms that references memories, states of mind and real and unreal objects. She uses light as an essential element in creating her imaginary enclosed spaces; the forms and shapes come into being because of illumination from within themselves or by reflections from other forms. Light bounces from form to form causing the viewer to travel in-out-around-above and below. Space may also become layered so that the viewer may see events taking place in shallow and deep space. Darker areas recede from view and memory. Thick paint and intense color add to the physicality of these works.

Contact: Nancy Mayhew
Phone: 562-594-4338
Email: mayhew11@verizon.net