Mary Obering (1937–2022) was an American painter known for her contributions to geometric abstraction. Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, she initially pursued a career in psychology, earning a BA from Hollins University and studying under B.F. Skinner at Harvard. However, she transitioned to art, receiving an MFA from the University of Denver in 1971. Obering's work evolved from Color Field paintings to incorporating techniques reminiscent of early Italian art, such as gilded wood panels and egg tempera. Her innovative use of materials and exploration of scientific concepts like particle physics set her apart. Obering's career was marked by significant exhibitions, including the 1975 Whitney Biennial, and her work is held in collections at institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She was represented by Kayne Griffin Corcoran in Los Angeles and Bortolami in New York.