Mary Weatherford (b. 1963) has emerged as a prominent painter of her generation, known for her innovative approach to American abstraction. She skillfully navigates and redefines the medium, honoring its history while boldly breaking traditions. Weatherford's distinctive integration of sculptural elements, particularly neon tubes since 2012, and her dynamic, embodied approach to painting, allow her to use abstraction both as a formal language and a deeply personal way to engage with the world. Weatherford was born in Ojai, California and received her BA from Princeton University and her MFA from Bard College. Weatherford's early works included assemblage elements like seashells and sponges. Weatherford achieved a significant career milestone in 2012 with her Bakersfield Project , a series incorporating her now signature neon rods.

Weatherford’s solo exhibitions have been held at prestigious venues including Museo di Palazzo Grimani, Aspen Museum of Art, Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College, Todd Madigan Gallery at California State University, Bakersfield, and LAXART in Los Angeles. Her recent group exhibitions include "13 Women: Variation II" at the Orange County Museum of Art (2023), "Aftereffect: Georgia O’Keeffe and Contemporary Painting" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and "The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World" at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Her works are also part of permanent collections in major institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate Modern in London, and the Brooklyn Museum.