BIO
Mark is drawn to painting for a number of reasons. Creating and viewing art is an exciting visceral feeling that hits him like a tidal wave; or at times there is a slow and steady response like a sea turtle swimming thousands of miles to its destination. Painting is an evolving journey. Mark experiments with ways to apply paint to a surface nearly every day, with intention, discovering new techniques and content along the way. After a session in his studio he always feels more empowered than when he started.
For many years Mark was an avid drummer. While he was passionate about drumming as an art form, Mark now prefers painting as an artistic expression. Although, drumming has greatly influenced his painting style, with the movement, rhythm and broad spectrum of strokes that are used in drumming, flowing over into every painting that he creates. After years as a drummer, Mark realized that to be a drummer in a band, he had to depend on other musicians in the foreground. As a painter, Mark is the drummer, guitarist, and vocalist all wrapped into one. When he started painting a decade ago, a new sense of independence became real to him, and he has never looked back.
While Mark loves creating, he takes exceptional pleasure when someone other than himself is moved by his art, and in learning that his work has a positive effect on others.
Mark Abercrombie's work is featured in private collections in Portugal, Scotland, Canada, Australia, and America. Mark has been invited to contribute two paintings for permanent display at DCRI, a Duke University building in downtown Durham, NC. Mark had 11 paintings displayed in the penthouse of the late architect of the African American Smithsonian History Museum, Phil Freelon. One of his paintings was purchased by a producer of Marvel Studio's movie "Iron Man" through this showing at the penthouse. The North Carolina News & Observer featured a photo of one of Mark's paintings in the Sunday Arts section of the newspaper's "Fall Arts Preview," as part of the newspaper's coverage of his solo exhibition. His shows have also been promoted by the Indy Newspaper located in North Carolina. Mark won "Best New Artist Award" during a show at Durham Arts Council in NC. This event made a bridge towards being a resident artist at Pleiades Arts in NC for over 7 years while it was still a "brick and mortar" art gallery. This experience was invaluable, as it shaped Mark's view significantly in terms of what it means to be an artist. As an example: the power and responsibility inherent in the field of artistry and the importance of acknowledging the capacity for a social stance that's always available as an artist, assuming they/ she/ he wants to reach out and grab it. Mark currently has 7 residencies where his art is always displayed and for sale. One of which is a 5 year residency at Chapel Hill Aloft Hotel. He works with realtors; his paintings can be displayed in their listed homes for sale. Mark is energized to have reconnected with Emmy Winner, Producer, Drummer, DJ, "Apple Juice Kid"; He has been asked to collaborate by providing paintings for Apple Juice's upcoming album "Love Love"... applejuicekid.com ...