Mary Ida Henrikson was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, and was influenced by the adventure writers, photographers and artists involved in producing the Alaska Sportsman magazine that was published in her hometown. She studied art history, English literature, fine art, and philosophy at Central Washington University and Claremont Graduate University.
Mary found inspiration through the changing environments inherent in work on the North Slope, Alaska Marine Highway, and in the fishing industry. She also taught at Ketchikan Community College and University of Alaska Southeast. In 1990, she founded Danger Island Studio on Creek Street in Ketchikan and closed the studio to study in New York at the Arts Students League. She is shown nationally, is widely published, and has been featured in two films made about her hometown: Ketchikan: The Artists and Ketchikan: A True Frontier.
Mary loves to travel to museum shows and rock concerts around the world and has traveled extensively in Belize. She continually explores Alaska and spends as much time as possible at her cabin in Southeast Alaska.