Mary O’Malley-Joyce is a photographer and painter whose work explores the emotional and visual resonance of everyday life, with a particular focus on landscapes and nature. Her creative journey began with a love for black and white photography, which she studied intensively in the 1980s while earning a degree in Photography from Brookdale Community College. There, she developed a strong foundation in film-based photography, darkroom techniques, and creative experimentation, including two independent study portfolios: The Doors of London and a hand-colored series using N surface prints and photographic pencils.

Over the next three decades, Mary balanced full-time work and raising two sons as a single mother, all while continuing to refine her craft. She expanded her portfolio to include color film and digital photography, and furthered her education at the International Center of Photography in New York City in the 1990s.

In 2018, Mary began oil painting, discovering a new way to merge her love of image-making with expressive transformation. Most of her paintings are based on photographs she’s taken over the years—some are translated directly into paintings to enhance emotional impact or visual appeal, while others remain as photographs when their strength lies in their original captured form. Her style ranges from realistic to impressionistic and abstract, depending on what the subject calls for.

Mary’s work has been exhibited in solo and group shows including Charlie’s Restaurant in Long Branch (2020), Beach Grille (2022), and The Women’s Club of Red Bank. Her photography and paintings have also been featured by The Gallery at Monmouth Park, The Art Society of Monmouth, and the Belmar Arts Council.

Mary continues to explore new subjects and techniques, grounded in a lifelong curiosity and an intuitive connection to her surroundings.