Art In The Capitol Now Showing: International Artist and Painter M.J. Benson

AUGUSTA, ME –This fall experience the vivid abstract paintings of internationally known artist M.J. Benson. This solo show is produced by the Maine Arts Commission’s Art in the Capitol program. It can be viewed as a self-guided tour through the Maine State House, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show is free and open to the public.

“The paintings featured at the Maine State House are from my most recent series of large- scale landscapes, my response to the tumultuous past few months of life,” Benson said. “My style is very painterly, with thick layers and broad movement with the brush, knife or other objects I use to apply or remove the paint.”

Originally from Massachusetts, Benson has been living and working in Maine since 2006. After earning a BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston/Tufts University, and an Ed.M. from Harvard University, Benson moved to Maine to raise a family in South Portland.

“We had always dreamed of living in Maine, so when a job opportunity came up, we jumped at it. There is no better place to live and work, especially as an artist,” Benson said. 

Benson discovered her love for painting at the Maine College of Art and Haystack Mountain School of Fine Craft, and she said she has experienced the genuine and significant support system from Maine’s artists and arts institutions. Benson is a recipient of the Maine Arts Commission Project Grant for Artists for photography in 2007, and painting in 2021. 

The Art in the Capitol program provides opportunities for Maine artists or an artist’s work whose theme is related to Maine to reach a wider audience. 

For Benson, Maine’s landscapes impact her background and career as an artist. 

“The Maine landscape is my muse,” Benson said. “The effect of living on the coast, walking by the ocean, swimming in it, sailing on it, and experiencing the ever-changing relationships of the sky, earth and sea, factors in every painting I make.”

Learn more about Art in the Capitol>

Contact Information 

M.J.’s work has been exhibited and collected internationally. She is represented by Portland Art Gallery. 

For sales inquiries, please contact Portland Art Gallery at 154 Middle St, Portland, ME, 207-956-7105, or gallerydirector@portlandartgallery.com.

To learn more about MJ visit her website at mjbenson.com.