Mara Abboud's artwork called 'Moody Blues' depicts two parrots in various hues of blue and green.
Mara Abboud’s artwork called ‘Moody Blues’ depicts two parrots in various hues of blue and green. Credit: Mara Abboud

The Wildling Museum is joining with award-winning artist Mara Abboud to present Mara Abboud: Visions of Beauty, an exhibit and fundraiser supporting the Wildling, on view Oct. 21-Nov. 12 in the Valley Oak Gallery.

Abboud has received international recognition for her innovation and unusual painting technique, working with acrylics on canvas and silk.

Her painting style is uniquely hers, interweaving a palette of myriad colors with fantasy designs to achieve a jewel-like tapestry effect reminiscent of tiles and stained glass.

The Wildling show will feature more than a dozen original painted works accompanied by limited edition prints on canvas with hand-painting overlay, highlighting the natural world and beyond.

Select limited edition indoor tile wall murals will be in the exhibit as well. All works are available for sale; and proceeds will support the Wildling Museum. Abboud will also have a selection of custom-made tempered glass serving trays, along with coaster sets and notecards for sale in the Wildling Museum store for a limited time.

Abboud was honored with the Artist of the Year award by the Academies Des Beaux Arts (New York, 1977); Artist of the Year by the Santa Barbara Arts Council (Santa Barbara Arts Festival, 1987); International Artist of the Year by the International Women’s Conference (Santa Barbara, 1998); and the AMAL International Artist of the Year (Washington, DC, 1998).

Locally, Abboud served as a guest artist at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in 2006 and 2007 and has created Santa Barbara County commissions that include the 2014 Granada Theatre 90th anniversary celebration poster, and five paintings for the landmark collection at Cottage Hospital.

Her art has been exhibited in more than 25 solo shows and reproduced in 26 publications, including Art in America, Art News, Architectural Digest, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Palm Beach Daily, and Naples Illustrated.

Learn more about Abboud and view more examples of her work at www.maraabboud.com. For more about the Wildling, and to volunteer or join as a member, visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.