MARY BLOCK
After receiving a BFA from the University of Illinois, Ms. Block attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. She briefly entered the University of Iowa’s MFA program but left upon receiving a grant from Allied Casting Corporation, Illinois, through the University of Illinois’ graduate engineering program.
Ms. Block served on the staff at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, and later, at Columbia College Chicago. She left teaching to complete a Master of Health Sciences degree at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She holds a Mulit-Disciplinary Certificate in Mental Health from the University of Illinois, and is certified in Sensory Integration and Praxis (SIPT) methodology.
Her diverse background has shaped a unique vision of the use of figurative sculpture in our society. Her work is known for its elegant and subtle rephrasing of space and accessibility in contexts that might otherwise be stark or empty. Ms. Block’s sculptures have become a part of
the Chicago and surrounding area’s architectural, park, and interior landscapes. The Chicago Historical Society holds some of her patterns in its archival collection. New sculptures continue to
be added to public and private art collections in the United States and internationally, most often
on a commission basis.
