Marina Adams (b.1960) synthesizes a wide range of influences in her work, from music to architecture to textiles. Although working in a non-figurative mode, physicality and movement are integral to her work. While Adams achieves great lyricism, every painting is nonetheless a record of a struggle, calling to mind the work of Joan Mitchell and late de Kooning—often cited by Adams as important influences. The artist's strong commitment to the important social role of art in furthering progressive values remains a fundamental inspiration, and integral to her notion of artistic expression.

Adams is based in New York City, Bridgehampton, Long Island, and Parma, Italy. She earned degrees from Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA and Columbia University, New York, NY. Adams is a 2016 recipient of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship and the 2018 Award of Merit Medal for Painting from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Her works are collected by institutions including Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.