Ann Farley

JOY | COLOR | PLAYFULNESS

I enjoy creating whimsical works inspired by my favorite small towns and my love for all things tropical. Shaped by living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the Florida Panhandle, and coastal Carolina, I am fueled by sunshine and recharged by water.

My three-dimensional paper designs of bright colors and playful shapes are all individually cut by hand. Starting with solid colors and basic shapes, I snip and fold until fun details reveal themselves, escape, and play with each other.

My mandala creations and bold graphic scenes of local landmarks and icons are designed to highlight what makes a community unique and celebrate its sense of place. I hope to spark joy, evoke memories, and brighten days.

The calming presence of water, the warming rays of the sun, and the subtle passage of the day reminds us that we are all part of natural cycles and a larger whole. These waves, ripples, and rays highlight our connections to each other and to the natural world. As a newcomer to Washington, DC, I am delighted that my creations highlighting water activities in the city were chosen for a traffic box wrap near The Wharf. This commission stretched my skills into digital art creation, and I’m enjoying creating digital works in addition to my cut paper designs.

I believe in the transformative power of arts experiences, and have developed and taught creative arts and science classes to people of all ages. My background is in science and business, but I have always been an artist at heart.