Award-winning sculptor Mardie Rees grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Born into a creative family, her childhood was spent building houses, sewing garments, drawing pictures, and visiting museums. When she was a teenager her family moved to Ecuador to facilitate community building. Rees’ immersion into Latin American culture broadened her worldview and set her on a path to become an artist.

In 2003, Rees earned her BFA from Laguna College of Art and Design. She is a regular faculty member at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle and she recently launched her own art school, Apprentice Academy. Rees has created life-size bronze sculptures for museums, hospitals, and schools, and she has won numerous accolades for her emotive sculpture. Her delight in people and their stories is evident in her expressive sculpture.