Mary Frances Pratt was a renowned Canadian painter celebrated for her photo-realist still life paintings. Known for transforming everyday objects into vivid, emotionally resonant works, Pratt's art often centered on domestic scenes, evolving to include more complex subjects and darker undertones over time. Pratt's work primarily explored domestic life in rural Newfoundland, depicting common household items with a bold and realistic style achieved through photographic projections. She discovered her signature style in the late 1960s, focusing on the interplay of light in her compositions. Her series on Donna Meaney, her daughter Barbara, and paintings of fires expanded her subject matter, often revealing deeper, more personal themes. Pratt's work has been exhibited in major galleries across Canada, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Her first solo exhibition was at Memorial University Art Gallery in 1967. Her work gained national attention in 1975 through the National Gallery of Canada's exhibition "Some Canadian Women Artists." Notable solo exhibitions include "The Art of Mary Pratt: The Substance of Light" (1995) and "Mary Pratt" (2013-2015), which toured Canada.  Pratt was born to William J. West, a New Brunswick Minister of Justice, and Katherine E. MacMurray. She studied Fine Arts at Mount Allison University, where she met her first husband, artist Christopher Pratt. They moved to Newfoundland in 1963, where she continued to develop her artistic career while raising their five children. They divorced in 2005, and she later married and divorced American artist Jim Rosen. Pratt passed away at home in St. John's, Newfoundland, on August 14, 2018. Pratt was named Companion of the Order of Canada in 1996 and received the Molson Prize in 1997. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and received nine honorary degrees from various Canadian universities. In 2007, Canada Post issued stamps featuring her artwork as part of the "Art Canada" series. Pratt's ability to infuse mundane subjects with emotional depth and her unique exploration of light have left a lasting impact on Canadian art.