Carrie Patterson

Carrie Patterson is a Professor of Art at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where she has been tenured since 2020. She holds an M.F.A. in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania (1998) and a B.F.A. in Painting, magna cum laude, from James Madison University (1992). Her artistic practice focuses on geometric objects that translate place through color, form, and line, exploring themes like vernacular architecture, historic sacred spaces, and landscape. Patterson has exhibited widely, including solo shows across the U.S., and her work was featured in the 2020 exhibition The Shaping of America: a painter's perspective at The Painting Center in New York.

She serves as founder of thegesso.com (art education for teens) and theyellowline.co (art curriculum for children). Her educational contributions include authoring How to See, a lecture series for The Great Courses. Awards include the 2019 Homer L. Dodge Award for Outstanding Service and the 2021 Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award.

Patterson’s teaching spans all levels of Drawing and Painting, Color Theory, and Art Education. She has held leadership roles, including the Steven Muller Distinguished Professorship of the Arts (2020–2023) and Chair of the Department of Art at St. Mary’s College. Her mentorship emphasizes inclusivity, personalized student growth, and future-focused creative development.