Mary Anne was raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. Her childhood home was a unique blend of creativity and scholarship – her mother an artist and her father an academician - Mary Anne and her older brother, one of the biggest influences in her life, were immersed in a ‘choose your own adventure’ of talent. Mary Anne’s brother, ever the gifted visionary, followed the creative path, while she chose the other, academia. As a young adult, Mary Anne struggled to balance her own innate creative drive with her unwavering intellectual curiosity. Unable to reconcile the two, she thought of her art as a hobby, though never letting it go, while pursuing her education.

During the pandemic, Mary Anne dedicated much of her free time to filling sketchbooks with her art. The act of creating felt therapeutic. She started sharing her pieces on Instagram to contribute to the community of artists that inspired her there. Organically, Mary Anne grew a public following and is delighted that people find joy in the pieces she creates. Through her use of color and shape, Mary Anne aspires to weave a narrative of an enduring pursuit of self-expression.

Mary Anne chooses to maintain anonymity as an artist, taking commissions as she works as a public health researcher addressing the impacts of structural racism on people who are minoritized and oppressed. Mary Anne and her partner of 20 years live on a small island off of Oakland, CA. Together they are raising two children to be good humans with the support of a progressive, inclusive, and loving community.

Follow this artist @maryanneshakyhand