If you are a fan of “magical realism” and its expression of wonder and intrigue, you just may fall in love with the art of Marie Bender, whose works are on display through June 28 in a solo show at Awbury Arboretum’s Cope House Gallery in Germantown. 

A classically trained artist and Woodmere art museum prize winner, Bender grew up in Flourtown and attended Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote. She graduated from Temple University's Tyler School of Art in 1978 and has lived in Ambler for the past 15 years. Her favorite artists are Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington, Dorothea Tanning, Salvador Dali and Pierre Roy.

Mt. Airy artist Stacia Friedman sees signs of Dali’s surrealism and the meticulousness of Vermeer in Bender’s work, a reflection of a magical realism that blends fantastical, supernatural or dreamlike elements into an otherwise realistic or mundane setting. Bender admits an affinity for the Dutch still life painters and describes them as a major influence.

“Their use of animate and inanimate subject matter allows for so much play,” Bender said. “Roger Anliker, one of my professors, was a strong influence. There are a number of really good still life painters over the last century. Rothko for his beautiful color or Klee. Asking an artist who influenced them is like letting a kid in a candy store.”

Bender mostly shows and sells her work out of her studio in Ambler and in pop-up shows and group shows. She started a drawing group almost 50 years ago that still gets together frequently. “We have become like family over the years,” she said. “It is a joy to have a group of other artists to talk to and share your work with. We have all learned so much from each other.”

The artist describes her parents, siblings, late husband and former teachers as major influences in her life and career. “And it was very nice to win a prize (the John R. Maxwell Award in 2018) at the Woodmere juried show,” Bender said. “Especially because I hold the juror, Syd Carpenter, in such high regard.”

Atlanta art aficionados Cliff and Kathy Wheeler are longtime admirers of Bender’s work, which is part of their extensive collection. “A mutual friend connected us with Marie, and we fell in love with her work,” Cliff Wheeler told the Local. “Her workmanship is gorgeous, visually striking.”

One thing that separates Bender from many other artists is that she has her own mini-museum of natural history. The project started when Bender was on a walk while in college and found a dead robin on her path.  Since then, she has become fascinated by the skeletal systems of birds, squirrels, mice and insects. “I now have a pretty extensive collection,” she said. “Friends, neighbors, neighborhood kids have all helped. They know to bag and freeze! I have wonderful bugs. Some of the specimens are taxidermied. I have found them at flea markets and on Instagram.”

Over the years, Bender has waited on tables, studied calligraphy Charles Schmidt, taught school, and worked doing ornamental plaster, mold making, casting and installation. 

“It was really a great job,” Bender recalled. “I had the opportunity to work at some fabulous places including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The State Department and even the White House. While doing this, I started learning faux techniques from the other craftspeople on job sites. I did some of this along with some murals. Then I learned sign painting and gold leafing. I guess when you go to art school, you figure out how to make a living using your hands.”

Bender works primarily in oils. She also works in gouache but uses that more for sketches and studies. 

“The best decision I ever made was to keep on painting. Keep on learning,” Bender said. “I was not the most talented student at Tyler, but I never have stopped painting. It’s taken time, but I’m getting there. You have to keep painting. In times of doubt, remember why you started. I have no idea who said it. But I love it. It keeps me going!”

For more information, visit mariebender.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com .