Located only three miles from the shores of Holden Beach lies a figment of the imagination—mermaids, flowers, angels and suns come to life with the shinning light of the sun, while dolls live happily in a small village under the shade of a large maple tree. Welcome to Mary’s Gone Wild, a place of wonderment and fascination. Visionary folk artist Mary Paulsen has been painting and creating art out of old windows and discarded odds and ends for the last decade, attracting thousands of visitors curious enough to stop by and explore her world. Paulsen had never taken an art class when she was given a vision by God to build a village for her dolls and begin painting to raise donations for Feed the Children, an international nonprofit relief organization. Last year, she donated $10,000 dollars. Paulsen is known as a visionary artist because she creates her work based on visions and dreams that she has with a spiritual connection. Paulsen has lived on the North Carolina coast for most of her life, growing up as one of 10 children in Sunset Harbor, NC. With a big grin and a warm heart, Paulsen has built a world of optimism and beauty that illuminates the imaginations of thousands every year.

“The spirit of the Lord is in that gallery.”

-Mary Paulsen