Marylou Chibirka was born March 5, 1956 in Scranton, PA., and spent her childhood in Dalton, PA. After being schooled locally, she went on to study at Indiana University of PA., and has degrees in both Painting and Art History.  After formal schooling, she continued her artistic studies with various artists at the Arts Student League in New York City, and privately with a number of renowned portrait artists.  Since opening the new Chibirka Gallery in 2007, she has been commissioned to paint over 500 portraits and was awarded several grants to paint members of the Northeast Pennsylvania community in her PORTRAITS FROM LIFE projects.  Her work is known regionally from her solo exhibitions at the Everhart Museum, Lizza Gallery, Misericordia University, Wyoming County Courthouse and the Federal Building in Scranton, PA. Most recently her portraits were on exhibit at ARTWORKS at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A recipient of the 2008 NE Regional Award she exhibited “A Retrospective with ‘Art&Soul ’” at Keystone College.  She is known to approach her portraits with high enthusiasm and excitement and a fresh technique to painting, striving more to capture the essence of a sitter rather than just a likeness. As a result, her paintings are known both for their freshness and the immediacy that characterizes her work. She currently is a full time professional portrait artist and resides on the family farm in Dalton, PA.