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Hearts Fire painting

By Darryl E. Owens

Emily Marra Beacon alum Emily Marra finished as a finalist in the abstract art category in the Art Show International Gallery 2022 International Juried Art Competition.

More several hundred artists from 42 countries were recognized in one of six prize categories. 

“I am over the moon about this!” Marra said, a studio arts graduate and the college’s Class of 2022 valedictorian.

Art Show International Gallery in Los Angeles, California is a leading contemporary fine art gallery. She discovered the competition while “Googling different art shows and competitions that I could try being a part of,” she said. So, she decided “to throw my hat into the ring.”

And with that, “I then started painting,” said Marra, who lives in Durham, North Carolina.

Channeling hope as her inspiration, Marra hoped “to convey the power that someone can have in themselves, to work in becoming their best selves, igniting a fire within that only brings light.”

It took few false starts, “to get it just how I wanted it,” but eventually the burning passion that she poured into the piece formed into “Heart’s Fire,” the acrylic piece flickering with positivity that she entered into the contest.

Heart’s Fire can be viewed on the gallery’s website. https://www.artshowinternational.com/winners-2022-abstract-6