Brewster artist, Marjorie Barbara Lesser, 96, known professionally as M. Zena Lesser, died on December 29, 2022 at Cape Cod Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Providence, RI to Leonard and Barbara Wigley, Marjorie attended Mass College of Art, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Boston University receiving a Masters of Arts in Art Education from the School of Fine and Applied Arts. She also studied with Morris Davidson, Henry Hensche, Hans Hoffman, Charles Sovek and others. In 1985, the Copley Society of Boston awarded her the status of Copley Artist after she was juried into 5 members' shows. She received first prizes in painting from the Yarmouth Art Guild in 1991 and 1992, as well as a first prize in painting from the Cape Cod Art Association (now known as Cape Cod Art Center) in 1989.

Marjorie was a prolific painter, experimenting with different styles and subjects, as well as photography. Her paintings reflect her adventurous spirit, love of color and devotion to the Cape Cod landscape. Marjorie’s greatest pleasure was immersion in the outdoors, loading her easel and paints into her van to spend a day painting landscapes en plein air. But she is perhaps best known for her work in abstract expressionism. Provincetown Association and Art Museum accepted two of Marjorie's abstract paintings into its permanent collection, one of which was included in its recent show featuring new acquisitions, and the Cape Cod Museum of Art is in the process of accessioning a painting and a collage.

During her professional career, Marjorie's paintings were exhibited at art museums Cape wide, including Cahoon Museum of American Art in Cotuit, Cape Cod Art Center in Barnstable, Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, the Creative Arts Center in Chatham, Provincetown Association and Art Museum in Provincetown, and the Wellfleet Art and Jacob Fanning Galleries in Wellfleet. Off Cape, she had exhibitions on Nantucket and in Boston as well as Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The Brewster artist's work was acquired by private and corporate collectors located in New York, Paris, Austria, Tokyo and elsewhere. Marjorie taught art classes in the public schools and at the Cape Cod Art Center.

As reflected in her artwork, Marjorie loved nature. She championed protection of the environment and animal rights. Marjorie attributed her good health and longevity to her daily meditation and yoga practice, as well as being physically active, particularly enjoying swimming and tennis. She traveled extensively in Europe, South America, Mexico and North Africa. India was her favorite destination.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her son, Marc Stephen Lesser, and her beloved miniature German Schnauzer, Annie. She is buried with her family at Oakdale Cemetery in Wellfleet.

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