Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is a fast-drying, water-based paint made with pigment and an acrylic polymer binder. It is widely used in art and decorative projects because it is versatile and durable.
Painter
Mary Corse
Mary Corse is an American painter known for white acrylic paintings incorporating reflective glass microspheres that change in appearance with light and the viewer's position.
Mary Corse quick facts
Review key details about Mary Corse's career, white acrylic paintings, reflective glass microspheres, light effects, and the viewing conditions that shape her work.
| Born | 1945 |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Paint media | Acrylic paint with reflective glass microspheres |
| Related paint type | Reflective paint |
| Common supports | Canvas · Painting board · Wood · Plywood · Plexiglass · Aluminum |
| Documented example | Untitled (Two Triangular Columns) (1965), constructed from plywood and carefully painted with white acrylic |
| Known for | White Light paintings whose reflective surfaces shimmer and shift as illumination and viewing angle change |
Sources: Museum of Modern Art, MoMA: Untitled (First White Light Series), Whitney Museum: Untitled (Two Triangular Columns), Whitney Museum: Mary Corse: A Survey in Light, and Pace Gallery: Mary Corse.
Paint types used
See the paint types documented in Corse's work, with links to PaintZeal references explaining each medium's properties, uses, and working characteristics.
Reflective Paint
Reflective paint is a specialty coating formulated to return direct light toward the viewer so painted surfaces become more visible at night. Unlike glow-in-the-dark paint, it does not store light and continue glowing after the light source is removed.
Surface types used
See the surface types documented in Corse's work, with links to PaintZeal references explaining how each support behaves and is prepared for painting.
Canvas
Canvas is a woven fabric used as a flexible support for painting. Artist canvas is commonly made from cotton or linen and sold either raw or coated with a ground layer.
Painting Board
Painting board is a rigid artist support made from hardboard, wood, or another stable panel material. It may be sold raw or prepared with a medium-specific ground layer.
Wood
Wood is a natural, porous material with grain patterns and absorbency that vary by species and cut. Its surface may also contain knots, resin, or an existing finish.
Plywood
Plywood is an engineered wood panel made from thin wood veneers bonded in alternating grain directions. Its face veneer, edges, voids, and adhesive system affect how paint absorbs and bonds.
Plexiglass
Plexiglass is a rigid acrylic sheet with a smooth, nonporous surface and sensitivity to incompatible solvents that can craze or damage the material.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a lightweight, nonferrous metal that quickly forms a thin oxide layer when exposed to air. This layer protects the metal but changes how coatings bond.
Painters similar to Mary Corse
Explore painters similar to Mary Corse through reflective surfaces, optical effects, changing light, and abstract painting that shifts with the viewer.
Jacqueline Humphries
Jacqueline Humphries is an American abstract painter known for reflective silver surfaces that shift with movement and light, combining metallic effects with layered, scraped, and gestural paint.
Bridget Riley
Bridget Riley is a British painter known for abstract compositions that create optical movement through repeated lines, curves, shapes, and structured color relationships.