Medusa and the Virgin Mary are frequently found in in Olson’s work, as well as the snake with varying meanings of the spiritual

“Martha Olson, whose powerful work should garner more attention everywhere, says that the small ‘Deposition From the Cross’ by Bachiacca in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery inspired her much larger ‘Deposition.” She slashes violent, protruding areas of oil pigment that make the emotional work seem to move.” - Joanna Shaw-Eagle’s, The Washington Times,