About Mary Beth
"My art is a personal journey in which I see the beauty of life whether in a person, animal, place or thing. I am so grateful for my gift."
Mary Beth Sasso specializes in pastel portraits of both people and animals capturing the true nature and personality of each subject. "When I chose a subject that speaks to my soul, the true essence of its beauty completes my vision of an exquisite piece of art. It becomes a part of me.”
Ms. Sasso was born in Connecticut and as a young child exhibited a strong talent in all areas of art with a natural ability to draw. As a teenager, she began studying under the mentorship of nationally and internationally known Master Pastelist, Claudia Post, www.claudiapost.com and for the next 7 years was her teaching assistant during her summers off from school.
Ms. Sasso attended Paier College of Art and received a B.A. in Graphic Design from Central Connecticut State University and went on to have a successful career as a graphic designer for over 30+ years. In 2008 Ms. Sasso reconnected once again with Ms. Post and returned full-time to her fine art roots with exhibits at various galleries in Connecticut along with teaching teens and adults in Connecticut schools and private studios.
She is an Adjunct Faculty of Art at Santa Rosa Junior College successfully teaching adults beginner level pastel painting and basic drawing skills in addition to teaching private classes and commissions.
Ms. Sasso is also a Certified Teaching Artist at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, which partners with John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. As a CTA of LBC’s arts integration residencies, Ms. Sasso brings art into a classroom to lead students through six interactive sessions combining an art form and another academic content area to dive deeper into learning. In addition, she also taught art for Sebastopol Center for the Arts Summer Arts Camp and Petaluma Arts Center.
Most recently she became an RYT200 Yoga Teacher. "My passion for art and yoga will enable me to offer workshops combining art and yoga for the mind, body, and spirit. A truly meditative and creative experience."
Exhibits
Maple & Main Gallery, Chester, CT
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2010
Autumn Light Studio & Gallery, Avon CT
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2010
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2011
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2012
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2013
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2014
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2015
Petaluma Arts Center Open Juried Show, Petaluma, CA
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2015
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2016
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2017
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2018
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2019
AQUS Cafe Foundry Wharf Zippers Exhibit, Petaluma, CA
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2018
AQUS Cafe Foundry Wharf Small Works Exhibit, Petaluma, CA
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2017
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2018
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2019
Spring Lake Village, Santa Rosa, CA
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2018
AQUS Cafe Foundry Wharf Vessels Exhibit, Petaluma, CA
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2019
Sebastopol Library, Sebastopol, CA
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2019
Vintage House, Sonoma, CA
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2019
Memberships
Pastel Society of the West Coast
Board Member, Chair of Society Awards
Petaluma Arts Center
Creative Sonoma
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
www.lutherburbankcenter.org
Sebastopol Center for the Arts