Maralynn Maltz is a mosaic and fiber artist.  She learned to crochet, knit, and sew as a child, making dresses and blankets for her dolls.  As a teen, Maralynn enjoyed surprising friends with hand made sweaters and scarves.  Maralynn also took community college and university extension courses in color and design which provided a foundation for her future enterprises. She was the sole proprietor of M2 Creations, a home-based business that designed and manufactured personalized stationery sold through retailers in Los Angeles, California. 

Post college, Maralynn learned the art of quilt making and created dozens of quilts as wedding, baby, and friendship gifts.  After her mom died, Maralynn found a box filled with her mother’s crochet hooks and knitting needles and decided to pick up the art of crochet once again.  Never one for following patterns,  Maralynn began designing her own afghans, pillows, hats, and scarves.  

In 2000, Maralynn and her young daughter took a “mommy and me” clay class through the Salem Art Association and that is when mosaics entered her life.  Determined to make a 7’ x 5’ broken china mosaic mirror frame, even though the class had been cancelled, Maralynn spent 6 months researching in the library and talking to other mosaic and tile artists.  She embarked upon her first piece titled “Aunty Mayo’s china closet.”   

Maralynn became hooked on mosaics and has a continuous list for future projects, including commissioned work.  She incorporates her love for quilts into many of her designs and each mosaic is unique in materials and methodology.  Each piece, be it a fireplace surround, mirror frame, table top, floating balls, or a simple pot tells it own story about the materials, color, and purpose. In addition to creating her own pieces, Maralynn teaches mosaic classes in her studio and has taught many friends how to crochet.  

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and a M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. Her private sector work experience was in banking, marketing, funds development, and project management.  She is currently chair of a non-profit art committee which enables her to utilize both her business degree and artistic abilities. 

Maralynn, her husband, and daughter reside in Salem, Oregon.  Maralynn enjoys coffee, photography, walking, and hiking with her family and friends. She has also volunteered in the community as a reading tutor for the past 7 years.