Born in Berkeley, California, Mary Corse studied at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before completing her B.F.A. at the Chouinard Art Institute in 1968. Her early practice emerged during the height of the Light and Space movement, where she began exploring the intersection of American Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism.

Corse is best known for her signature use of industrial materials, specifically glass microspheres, which she applies to canvas to create radiant, light-responsive surfaces. Her work focuses on the phenomenology of perception, treating light as both the subject and the primary material of her compositions.

In recent years, Corse has received significant institutional recognition for her contributions to 20th-century art. She was selected as an honoree for the 2025 LACMA Art+Film Gala, highlighting her enduring influence on contemporary visual culture.