ppe

by Mary Coleman

Artist’s Statement:

This series of works depicting figures in PPE was completed in 2025 and reflects my enduring interest in medical history and infectious disease. That fascination began at the age of five, when I first encountered an article on the Black Death in National Geographic. From then on, I sought out every resource I could, asking my parents to help me find books at the library, urging them to read aloud, and even attempting to bring these subjects into the classroom. Although my teachers were rarely persuaded, I did once succeed in having The Masque of the Red Death read aloud on Halloween.

These early experiences formed the foundation of my artistic practice today. I am drawn to the ways epidemic disease has shaped human history, both medically and culturally, and my work seeks to translate that enduring curiosity into a visual language.

*This submission contains pieces featured in Blood+Honey October 22, 2025.

Gloves

Exhaustion

Infected

Stiff

Stretcher

Body Bag

Orphan

Trash

Mourner

Suit

Disinfectant

Self-Portrait at Dammasch State Hospital

The Window

Image of Mary Coleman

BIO: Mary Coleman is an artist and poet based in Portland, Oregon. She lived in New Zealand for 11 years, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Art and Design. Her art has been included in numerous local exhibitions in Portland, Oregon. You can view her visual work at http://www.fivebluemarks.com or follow her on Instagram @ehloaf.