Still Looking

Still Looking focuses on ordinary subjects held in sustained attention. Using vivid and graphic color, these works allow familiar objects and faces to emerge in a new light.

Mariam Paré is a Chicago-based visual artist and self-taught mouth-painter. She became a quadriplegic at the age of 20 after surviving gun violence. The injury caused her to lose the use of her hands, so Mariam re-trained herself to paint by holding brushes in her mouth. She later pursued a degree in Studio Art and continued to grow as a visual artist and “mouth-painter.” Mariam is recognized for her colorful still lives, and thought-provoking multi-media works. In addition to painting by mouth, her practice often explores themes connected to disability embodiment and lived experience. She is an active member of Chicago’s disability arts community and a member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Worldwide. Notable private collectors of her work include actor Pierce Brosnan, Kathie Lee Gifford, and the University of Utah Rehabilitation Hospital.

Image courtesy of the artist.

Mariam Paré

January 9 - February 7, 2026 at Art City