By
Mary Kamerer
Piece description from the artist
This oil painting offers a nostalgic view of Charlotte’s uptown skyline, glimpsed from the gentle curve of old railroad tracks that once carried the weight of industry and growth. These rusted rails, now softened by time and overgrown with foliage, lead the viewer’s eye toward the gleaming towers of the modern city—the Queen City—standing tall against a sky tinged with the warmth of late afternoon light.
In this scene, history and progress meet. The quiet foreground, with its earthy tones and encroaching greenery, speaks to the legacy of Charlotte’s industrial past, while the shining skyscrapers rise as symbols of ambition, resilience, and transformation. The juxtaposition of steel and stillness becomes a powerful visual metaphor: a city in motion, yet deeply rooted in its past.
“Tracks to the Queen City” is more than a cityscape—it is a portrait of Charlotte in transition. Painted with warmth and reverence, it invites reflection on how cities evolve along the paths laid by those who came before. Here, the viewer is offered a moment of stillness amidst momentum, and a view of progress shaped by memory.
Mary Kamerer is an impressionist artist oil painter in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her works have been the culmination of many years of various creative pursuits, and instruction under many nationally known artists. After graduating with a degree from UNCC and raising a family, she began painting in oils.
An emphasis on light and shadows can be seen in Mary's impressionistic paintings of landscapes as well as still lifes in her studio at Dilworth Artisan Station. Her works have been seen in American Art Collector, Frederickburg Literary Review, Art Guide Artists Directory, Ballantyne Magazine, VoyageATL, SouthPark Magazine and QC Exclusive magazines. Most recently, one of her paintings, "Scars are Golden", was used by Cochrane, a British organization of healthcare workers and scientists distributing the latest in healthcare information.
An Art Advisor will get in touch with you today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your artwork needs.
Get Started
