Marian Winsryg (1941– ) was born in Los Angeles, California. She earned a BA from Arizona State University in 1963 and an MFA with High Distinction from the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles.

In 1965, Marian started her teaching career at Moore College of Art and Design. By 1999, she had taken on the role of Curator and Director of both the Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery and the SMC Performing Arts Center. Her dedication to the arts and education was honored in 2004 with the Francis/Martin Sosin Chair of Excellence award.

Marian’s artistic journey began in childhood when she attended classes at the Art Institute of Chicago between the ages of six and eight. Those early years were marked by memorable visits to The Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Art Institute of Chicago—places where she eagerly sketched animals, artifacts, and exhibits. These experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong fascination with the natural world and a deep visual education that continues to fuel her imagination.

Over the years, her practice has expanded to include digital art and printmaking alongside traditional painting and drawing. Initially, digital techniques served to support her painting concepts, but now she uses painting and drawing to develop ideas for digital prints. By integrating traditional media with digitally produced forms, she creates a layered visual language.

Patterns found in nature—through texture, color, and structure—serve as a central source of inspiration. These early experiences, rooted in curiosity and observation, have evolved into a lifelong exploration of the perceptual worlds of nature, science, and the environment. Animals and their ecosystems remain a central theme in her work, serving as both subject and symbol. For Marian, nature itself is a living testament to the boundless creativity unfolding all around us.