Mary Lou Pavlovic's work has the sense of a deep lingering violence, often made presentable or palatable by slick, beautiful surfaces. Issues of taste and acceptability predominate.

Pavlovic works across a number of mediums including photography, video and sculpture. Through these diverse working methods, she articulates her social and political beliefs, communicating forceful and often confronting messages about violence and power. Her exquisite objects such as toy guns with their surfaces encrusted in glitter, are disturbingly seductive. The threat implicit in the objects is hidden behind a glamorous veneer.

Mary Lou Pavlovic has been included in important group exhibitions in Australia and overseas. She has also held solo exhibitions in Australia, Germany and Great Britain.