Martha Saunders

Growing up in a small town near Washington DC, Saunders was
first exposed to paintings at the National Gallery of Art. Her
interest in picture making and art history was sparked by viewing
these master paintings and poring over her father’s art books.
After receiving a degree in painting and printmaking, Saunders
began her studio practice and joined the Women’s Caucus for Art.
The Caucus, founded by women art historians, opened her eyes
to the many voices who were excluded from the story of art and
inspired a continuous questioning of representation.

An active arts educator, Saunders has an MFA from the Maryland
Institute College of Art and a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth
University. She is currently a professor at Mary Baldwin
University. Inspired by the opportunity to work with young
developing artists, Saunders seeks to create a collaborative and
exploratory process in her studio courses. This teaching is
motivated and directed by Saunders’ individual studio practice,
which has been the primary driver of her life’s work.