MaryEllen Curran is an empathic photographer, author and designer. Passionate about enlightening humans about living a simplified lifestyle of beauty and purpose, she was educated at the International Academy of Merchandising & Design in Chicago, designed for clients such as Marshall Field's, Neiman-Marcus and the hospitality industry including Oak Brook Hills Hotel and Airbnb.

M, a freelance photographer since she was ten, specialized in capturing the invisible light, and focused for many years with infrared light photography and darkroom printmaking, winning awards including First Place at the International Exhibition at Fraser Gallery in Washington, D.C., a Woman’s Work Scholarship to study with photographer Joyce Tenneson and exhibited in over 50 juried fine art gallery exhibitions. MaryEllen’s work sold at Sotheby’s, with collector’s purchasing her fine art infrared photography from around the world. MaryEllen is currently represented by Saatchi Art in the United Kingdom.

M founded the Koi Whisperer Sanctuary & Japanese Gardens in 2010, along with the Zen Living by design to inspire people to appreciate nature and experience the beauty and grace of the Japanese Koi and their gardens.

Invited Guest Speaking engagements include the Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, Anderson Japanese Gardens, Fabyan Japanese Gardens and the Koi Whisperer Sanctuary & Japanese Gardens on the beauty, simplicity and connective light that lives within nature.

Finding that there was no place for abandoned Koi to be placed, M created the Koi Rescue and Adopt a Koi programs, taking in over 9,000 Koi (fish) in the last eleven years and becoming the only licensed Koi Rescue facility in America. In 2016 she expanded to offer a bed and breakfast with AIRBNB, to give Guests the opportunity to stay in a Japanese Ryokan and experience the Koi and Zen Living at the sanctuary. Named the Most Relaxing Destination, in the Zen Guide for CHICAGO MAGAZINE in November, 2019, the Koi Sanctuary welcomed guests from all across the globe who come to seek the mindfulness and enlightenment within nature.

Yet, in this time of reflection, M decided to return to her creativity as a visionary photographer and author and her design & publishing company was re-born.

M has traveled extensively for the Zen Living by design brand (ZLBD) including Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, Bonaire, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Japan and Iceland to educate and empower on conscious intentional living.

The ZLBD brand offers products that define the meaning of simplified and organic living.

Based in St. Charles, Illinois M continues her creative work at the Koi Sanctuary & Japanese Gardens for the Zen Living by design and Infrared Light International.

It is amazing how we can rise above… under the most difficult and challenging of situations, if we believe. Now, our Koi Sanctuary and Japanese Gardens inspires people to be enlightened by the the spirit discovered in nature, our Koi, and the beauty of our Japanese Gardens. Awaken to the invisible thread that light gives us through our photographic and enlightening books and products. Intentional living is so simple when you let go of all the preconceived ideas of what we should be and listen to your intuitive voice. Study light and you will experience truth.

Our Infrared Light International Publishing division is a conscious connection to that unseen light. I am ecstatic that en.light.en, has been published and the newest publication about Nature will be published by Balboa Press later this year. My journeys brought me to experience the light in cultures and countries that I could never have imagined possible. This transformative energy exists and for me, as an empathic photographer and spiritual author it is important to share that connection with others so that they too, can be inspired. An awakening in which the beauty of the light within nature became my purpose and one that I am honored to experience in this lifetime.

Love & Light… M

To view the online gallery of available photographic images from our publications visit maryellencurran.com