Artist Bio | Chris Mark |

Chris Mark is a painter, doodler and an award-winning professional graphic designer who's work regularly appears in prestigious international annuals. His painting is undeniably connected to and influenced by his affinity for commercial art, demonstrated by the crossover of mid-century modern design principles and graphic forms into more traditional media. His large acrylics on canvas layer historical subject matter, often in a whimsical light via flea market kitsch, inspiring an open-ended visual dialogue.

Born and raised on the Central Coast of California in the sleepy beach town of Morro Bay, Chris grew up skateboarding (when it was still a crime) and surfing. He points to the groundbreaking '80's street / skate graphic movement led by Stacy Peralta and the Bones Brigade as a determining factor in his career path creating and propagating imagery. Pop sensation Jean-Michel Basquiat's looseness and iconic content along with Charles Wilkin's playful collage are recent influences on Chris' evolving mixed media approach.

In 1997, Chris graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Applied Art & Design. He migrated to the Bay Area where he got his start in the advertising industry. In 2001 Chris opened the doors to his own design consultancy, Cj Design, which he has successfully grown during the past decade. His feet are firmly rooted in Pleasure Point on the east side of Santa Cruz where he lives with his wife and two kids.