MEGAN ELIZABETH READ

Megan Elizabeth Read, also known as Mae Read, is an American figurative artist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. She is largely self-taught and works primarily with oil paints, creating pieces that range from small still-life works to large-scale paintings, often focusing on the female form. Her artistic journey began in rural Virginia, where she spent her childhood exploring nature and drawing. After a stint in Los Angeles and a career in the tech field, she returned to Virginia and fully embraced her passion for painting in 2017.

Megan Elizabeth Read's artwork often explores themes of human vulnerability, protection, and expansion. Her paintings delve into the contradictions and complexities of existence, such as the perpetual versus the transitory. She frequently portrays the female form, blending traditional elements like flowers with contemporary references, creating aspirational portraits that reflect multiple selves--who you are, who you want to be, and the coexistence of these identities. Her work is characterized by a sense of calm and contemplation, often set in shadowy environments that evoke introspection.

Mae's work has been exhibited internationally, including at the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona and the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin.