There is a hint of mystery as you visually walk into Marian Van Landingham's paintings. You may be led into the narrow passages of an Italian village, out onto a wooden dock, into a corner of Dumbarton Oaks Gardens, or to observe light and shadows playing on a patio wall. Usually large, almost human scale, Marian's paintings open up space when seen in a room, down a long hall or up a staircase.

In addition to her acrylic paintings, Marian also creates fire enamels on copper panels. Transparent and opaque glass powders are fused onto copper at 1500 degrees in a kiln. The resulting "paintings" are moisture proof, and can be hung on exterior walls if well secured.

Marian works in her studio in the Torpedo Factory Art Center. She proposed the concept of the Torpedo Factory in 1974 to the City of Alexandria with the backing of the Alexandria Bicentennial Commission, and was the Center's first director. For 24 years she represented Alexandria and parts of Fairfax and Arlington Counties in the Virginia House of Delegates while continuing her work as an artist.