Public speaking is about love.

"Speaking in public has never come naturally to me, in fact, it's been a source of fear since childhood that I’ve worked to overcome. This challenging journey has been one that has allowed me to discover my drive for storytelling.

I've been overwhelmed by the positive responses I've received from those who have heard me speak. It's profound to witness how sharing stories can inspire and empower people.

Public speaking is a responsibility and opportunity to create positive impacts. I strive to always be open and giving while sharing my art, philosophy, and motivation: my why’s. I feel honored and privileged to be able to serve others in this way." -Mary

Mary Mattingly

Recent lectures and topics

Artist Mary Mattingly at the Brooklyn Public Library during the Night of Philosophy and Ideas

United Nations, NYC

Mary spoke about the power of art to change perceptions and perspectives, and art in public space. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, helped open the exhibition called "Disasters are Not Natural" alongside the UN General Assembly meeting “Working Together to Reduce Risk for a Resilient Future.”

Telephotography, FotoFocus, OH

April 2022, Mary participated in FotoFocus, a photography conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, she was part of a panel discussion questioning the relevance of discerning between a center and a remote location. Mary spoke about her research work specific to the photography supply chain, the parts of the camera, the mining, production, and distribution of the elements that make the camera, film, and paper she prints on, describing the interconnectivity of places surrounding the production of photography.

School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts, MA

In March 2022, Mary lectured about several ecologically-focused artworks that function as a type of soft activism that bridge concerns and communities, as part of a week-long environmental art symposium. Mary spoke about bundling the objects in her possession into large sculptures and pulling them through New York City in absurd performances that emphasize the emotional weight of those objects. She spoke about spectacle, public performance, and art as a regenerative act.

University of Cincinnati, OH

In February 2022, Mary presented her artwork to students and faculty at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, for a lecture geared towards undergraduate and graduate students that took place over zoom. She described the importance of balancing public art projects with photography and storytelling.

CalArts, CA

In January 2022, Mary lectured at CalArts about ecological art projects as part of a curriculum that focused on imagined futures curriculum hosted by several faculty. Mary focused on co-creating regenerative culture through art, collective world-building, and talked in depth about specific projects, including the Flock House, Swale, Waterpod, Wading Bridge, and Pull in Havana.

Fordham University, NY

Mary lectured about her community based, local art projects at Fordham University in March 2022. She focused on the Swale project, a floating food forest that docked near Fordham University at Concrete Plant Park and specific community groups she worked with in order to complete the project, as well as the effects the project had on New York City Park land. Mary also focused on the Waterpod project, a precursor to Swale, one that helped to identify many community groups.

Oxford University in the UK

In 2016 Mary spoke at Oxford University in the UK about photography and environmental public art, and the power of art. 

National Gallery of Victoria, Australia

At the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia Mary spoke about her work with the US Department of State through a project called smArtpower, and how she facilitated the making of a collaborative sculpture based on a project called Wearable Portable Architecture. She also spoke about bundling the objects in her possession to make statements about her personal consumption and waste, and how to co-build meaningful actions in the world.

Alaska Design Forum, Anchorage Museum, AK

As part of Alaska Design Forum, Mary traveled to several cities and towns in Alaska including Anchorage at the Anchorage Museum, AK. Her lectures included public artworks such as Waterpod, Wetland, and Wearable Homes.

Harvard University Graduate School of Education

In 2014, with Art21s Jess Hamlin, Mary lectured at Harvard University Graduate School of Education on topics of arts-based research, public engagement and social practice in the arts, and looking towards art in the Anthropocene.

Selected lecture bibliography

2007 - Present

Invite Mary to speak
  • 2022

    Telephotography, FotoFocus, OH

    School of the Museum of Fine Arts/Tufts, MA

    University of Cincinnati, OH

    CalArts, CA

    Fordham University, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2022 
  • 2021

    Focal Point Gallery, UK

    NYC Water Futures (host), Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY

    SUNY Purchase, NY

    University of Michigan, MI

    Baruch College, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2021 
  • 2020

    Night of Philosophy and Ideas, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY

    ecofeminism(s) (panelist), Thomas Erben Gallery, New York, NY

    College of DuPage, IL

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2020 
  • 2019

    Conference on World Affairs, Boulder, CO

    Aperture, NY

    National Gallery of Victoria, Australia

    Massachusetts College of Art, MA

    Hanes Visiting Artist Lecture Series, University North Carolina, NC

    University of Colorado, Boulder

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2019 
  • 2018

    University of Pennsylvania, PA

    Museum of the City of New York, NY

    Watkins College, TN

    Foundation Monet, Giverny, France

    8th Floor, NY

    Provincetown Art Center, MA

    92nd Street Y, NY

    Des Moines Art Center, IA

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2018 
  • 2016

    Yale University School of Art, CT

    Penny Stamps, University of Michigan, MI

    University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    College Art Association, Washington DC

    A Blade of Grass, New York, NY

    Alaska Design Forum, Anchorage Museum, AK

    Light Work, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2016 
  • 2015

    AIPAD with Art21, New York, NY

    Rutgers University, Camden, NJ

    Democracy Alliance, San Francisco, CA

    Creative Chemistries with Art21, New York Armory, NY

    Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de la Habana, Cuba

    University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2015 
  • 2014

    University of Maine, Orono ME

    Anchorage Museum, Anchorage AK

    The Institute of the North, Nome and Barrow, AK

    Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT

    University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Harvard University Graduate School of Education “The Future of Learning”

    University of Buffalo, “Performing Economies” Buffalo, NY

    University of Illinois, Ubrana, IL

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2014 
  • 2013

    MoMA PS1, Queens, NY

    University of Buffalo Emerging Practices, Buffalo NY

    Art21, New York, NY

    Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY

    The Bronx Museum of the Arts with smARTpower, Bronx, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2013 
  • 2012

    University of the Philippines, Manila, The Philippines

    The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY

    The Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY

    Bennington College, with Taeyoon Choi, Bennington, VT

    New School, UNFOLD, A Cultural Response to Climate Change, New York, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2012 
  • 2011

    Columbia College, Chicago, IL

    CalArts, Los Angeles, CA

    deCordova Sculpture Park, Lincoln, MA

    WINTEC, International Festival of Media and Art, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Yale University School of Art, Norfolk, CT

    Department of Environmental Conservation, Brooklyn, NY

    Big Ideas in Art & Culture Lecture Series, with Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area, CANADA

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2011 
  • 2010

    DePaul University Museum, Chicago, IL

    M.I.T. Senseable Cities Lab, Cambridge, MA

    University of North Texas, Fluid Frontier Symposium, Denton TX

    New School University, New York, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2010 
  • 2009

    Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY

    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

    Cornell University, New York, NY

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2009 
  • 2007

    Artist talk, New York Public Library, New York, NY

    With Nayland Blake, International Center of Photography

    Artist Mary Mattingly's Lectures in 2007 
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Lectures

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