The Alumni Spotlight is a place to hear from the School of the Arts alumni community about their journeys as artists and creators.
Mary Mann '15 has written for The New York Times, The Believer, Smithsonian, Matter, Guernica, Salon and other outlets. Her work has been recommended by Longreads and The Dish, and she’s the recipient of a 2015 Catwalk residency. She’s the associate editor of the NYT bestselling collection Women in Clothes (Penguin 2014) and the author of forthcoming Yawn (FSG Originals 2016/7).
Was there a specific faculty member or peer who especially inspired you while at the School of the Arts? If so, who and how?
Patricia O'Toole was a big influence. From her I learned how to merge creativity, routine and kindness into an approach to work that has helped me tremendously.
How did attending the School of the Arts impact your work and career as an artist?
Hugely. Before being accepted, I didn't have the confidence to critique my work seriously.
What was your favorite or most memorable class while at the School of the Arts?
Sheila Heti's class on character, which was unlike anything else, and a wonderful cross-genre criticism class co-taught by Margo Jefferson and Philip Lopate.
