About Mary Telfer
Mary Telfer is a multi-media artist, educator, and mentor who uses language and humor to explore themes of corporate structures, animal rights, and feminist agency. With an M.F.A. in Visual Arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a B.F.A. from Northern Illinois University, she works across photography, video, drawing, painting, collage, digital media, and book arts in a practice that is both collaborative and socially engaged.
For over two decades, Mary has been dedicated to art education, teaching at McHenry County College, Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA), and beyond. In 2013, she received NISRA’s Compassion Award for her work in art education. She has also spent years curating and jurying exhibitions throughout the Midwest, including Women’s Works, Art Fair at the Dole, The Sage Gallery, Wausau Festival of Arts, and more.
Beyond traditional teaching, Mary is the founder of The Creative Collective, an online membership where she guides artists of all levels through engaging weekly challenges, interactive Zoom classes, and workshops designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and encourage artistic growth. She is especially passionate about helping "closet creatives"—those who long to make art but feel stuck, unsure, or too busy to start.
With an extensive exhibition history across the U.S., including shows in Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Wisconsin, Mary’s work has earned multiple awards, including the Women’s Works Artistic Merit Award (2017). She is also deeply committed to advocating for veganism, art, and healthy living, using her platform to educate and inspire others.
Whether through her own art, teaching, or mentorship, Mary’s mission is to help creatives rediscover their artistic spark and embrace the joy of making art.
Contact: [email protected]
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Mary Telfer is a multi-media artist, educator, and mentor who uses language and humor to explore themes of corporate structures, animal rights, and feminist agency. With an M.F.A. in Visual Arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a B.F.A. from Northern Illinois University, she works across photography, video, drawing, painting, collage, digital media, and book arts in a practice that is both collaborative and socially engaged.
For over two decades, Mary has been dedicated to art education, teaching at McHenry County College, Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA), and beyond. In 2013, she received NISRA’s Compassion Award for her work in art education. She has also spent years curating and jurying exhibitions throughout the Midwest, including Women’s Works, Art Fair at the Dole, The Sage Gallery, Wausau Festival of Arts, and more.
Beyond traditional teaching, Mary is the founder of The Creative Collective, an online membership where she guides artists of all levels through engaging weekly challenges, interactive Zoom classes, and workshops designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and encourage artistic growth. She is especially passionate about helping "closet creatives"—those who long to make art but feel stuck, unsure, or too busy to start.
With an extensive exhibition history across the U.S., including shows in Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Wisconsin, Mary’s work has earned multiple awards, including the Women’s Works Artistic Merit Award (2017). She is also deeply committed to advocating for veganism, art, and healthy living, using her platform to educate and inspire others.
Whether through her own art, teaching, or mentorship, Mary’s mission is to help creatives rediscover their artistic spark and embrace the joy of making art.
Contact: [email protected]
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