Mark Larson

Due to Mark Larson's love of nature as a result of growing up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, his early nature and wildlife paintings developed an eager audience.  After serving in the Air Force for four years in Alaska, he went back to school at Portland State University where he finished his bachelor’s degree in painting, drawing, and print making.  Once there, he was challenged to explore his inner landscape and develop his true voice. 

After graduating from college, Mark was inspired by his travels to Italy beginning in 1999 with his wife Andree, an art historian.  While there, he underwent a personal and artistic renaissance, literally overnight.  Images of nature were suddenly transformed by the juxtaposition of architecture, symbolism, and surrealism.  As a result of this evolution, Mark’s work has developed a wide following from art lovers around the globe. 

Described as a "surreal genius" by The Columbian newspaper, Mark has worked to become one of America's leading contemporary imaginative realist painters.  His most recent accolade was winning the Haynes Galleries Award in conjunction with the Art Renewal Center International Salon, which saw 4,300 entries from 73 countries. Mark has shown his work  internationally in the Florence Biennale, and in galleries and museums in Italy, Switzerland, Canada, and throughout the U.S.  His paintings have won multiple best of show awards, have appeared in numerous publications, and are collected on several continents.  Public and private collections include Princess Cruise Lines, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, and many others.  Mark currently resides in Portland, Oregon with his wife Andree, two english setters, and a very fat cat. 

* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 16^th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.