Humans have been telling stories for as long as we have existed. These stories have often been a captivating mix of history and fantasy. We often like to dismiss fairy tales as stories for children, but these are stories that speak to the very heart of human nature. They shine a light on our deepest fears and our greatest triumphs. Folklore and fairy tales connect us to our past and help us understand our reality.
In RiverPlace's newest exhibit, artist Holly Marie invites visitors to enter a world where imagination gathers into living story—where folklore and fairy tales take shape through painting, illustration, and needle-felted forms, creating dreamlike worlds that feel both remembered and newly discovered.
GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5, Free
“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
Meet the Artist
HOLLY MARIE
Holly Marie is a painter and fiber artist who graduated in 2018 with a BFA in Illustration. Since the day she learned to read, she has immersed herself in works of fiction. She can remember staring at the covers of her favorite books, poring over every detail of the illustrations. She knew at a young age that she wanted to capture that same magic.
As she grew older, she fell in love with history, folklore, and nature. All of these things came together for her in her artwork. She could tell stories with images and capture the things she saw in her imagination.
She began as an oil painter and watercolorist and has recently branched out into needle felting. Whatever the medium is, she is continuously inspired by fairy tales and the inherent magic of nature.
Holly lives in Warroad, MN, with her husband and two little girls. She loves going out into the forest with her girls to find treasures. A beautiful leaf, a bit of lichen, a moth’s wing—these things are priceless, and she loves to incorporate them into her work.
Her illustrations have been published in BYU’s Leading Edge Magazine and The Good and the Beautiful homeschool curriculum. She has also written and illustrated a children’s book, The Little Troll Girl, and she has won first place at NWMAC’s 2026 art exhibit. Her fiber sculptures can be found at mossyfernstudio.etsy.com, and her illustrative portfolio is at cara.app/hollymarie