Mary-Jane Steffens

A woman with curly dark hair smiling and wearing a black and white patterned top standing next to a framed painting of a woman with curly hair looking upward.

Christchurch, New Zealand

As a pastel portrait and figure artist based in Ne;son, Mary-Jane invites viewers to get up close to her work to see the results of a limited colour palette, tens of thousands of directional lines and multiple passes all revealing texture and colour that you may not expect.

Mary-Jane is part of PANZ (Pastel Artists of New Zealand). After receiving the General section winner award in the 2025 National Exhibition she gained APANZ accreditation. She is also a proud member of Wall to Wall Art Gallery.

Her biggest influences are impressionist artists Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt. Degas for his ability to portray movement and everyday life, and Mary Cassatt for her ability to capture intimate family moments. Mary-Jane aims to capture the effects of light, colour and movement and to show off how amazing the human face and form is. Mary-Jane is also a graphic designer and web designer.

Website
Instagram logo with a white camera outline on a colorful gradient background of purple, pink, orange, and yellow.
Facebook app icon with white 'f' on a blue background, partially visible pink sidebar.
A portrait of a young woman with closed eyes and a peaceful expression, with curly hair flowing around her face, rendered in warm, earthy tones.
A realistic painting of a young woman with a bun hairstyle, sitting on a wooden stool, hugging her bent knees with her arms, against a reddish-brown background.
Painting of a woman sitting on the floor with her legs bent, arms resting on her knees, and her head turned to the side against a reddish-brown background.
Artists