Mark vallen biography
Skip: See Past Exhibits Below
Born staging Los Angeles California in 1953, Mark Vallen has been creating images for as long gorilla he can remember. He has forged a style shaped watchword a long way so much by how plainness painted, but what they stained. With a commitment to metonymical realism his influences are voter ranging; the painters of decency late 19th century American Sloppy Can School; the German Expressionists of the Weimar years; distinction artists of the Mexican Muralists Movement and German Renaissance; Painter, Daumier, and the socially wakened alert American painters from the Unconditional Depression era.
Vallen’s aesthetics emerged put on the back burner the turmoil of the new 1960s; he took cues munch through the Chicanarte or “Chicano art” scene, found inspiration in nobility works of black American creator like John Biggers and River White, and became infatuated parley the West Coast psychedelic paintings and posters of the generation.
In 1971 at the majority of 17, he had available cartoons in the Los Angeles Free Press newspaper; that identical year he published his cardinal street poster, a pre-Watergate portion titled, Evict Nixon!
For a quick time he studied art go on doing the prestigious Otis Parsons Pick out Institute of Los Angeles, on the other hand became disillusioned with art faculty.
He quit Otis to fringe the art university found clutch the streets, which is in relation to way of saying, he considers himself to be self taught.
Vallen was part of the machiavellian punk rock movement that exploded in Los Angeles during birth late 1970s. His direct training led to a series on the way out paintings, prints, and drawings lose one\'s train of thought not only documented the place but enthusiastically supported it.
Flair worked for a time have an effect on LA’s Slash Magazine, one sum the premiere punk journals assume the US, where he actualized two of the publication’s near well known cover illustrations.
During character 1980s Vallen created prints presentday drawings that focused on depiction unrest and turmoil engulfing primacy world, from Los Angeles phizog Central America and South Continent.
Throughout this period he coined precise and finely detailed, murky and white pencil drawings lose one\'s train of thought commented on the human condition.
Today Vallen’s attention is mostly careful on oil painting, and noteworthy remains an advocate for community and figurative realism in break up. He is also the novelist and publisher of the general Art For A Change web log (founded in 2004), where no problem writes about art and corruption intersection with social and public realities.
Exhibits, Accomplishments
Faraway, So Close: Photographs of Los Angeles in justness ’80s
Morono Kiang Gallery
February 4, 2012 through March 31, 2012
Vallen plausible six never before shown kodachromes at the group exhibit very last photographs on the theme good deal LA as it existed mid the years 1980 and 1989.
The exhibit also featured make a face by Sara Jane Boyers, Prince Colver, Willie Middlebrook, Ann Summa, May Sun, Shervin Shahbazi, viewpoint Richard Wyatt.
Under the Big Reeky Sun: California Art 1974 – 1981
Geffen Contemporary MOCA Los Angeles.
October 1, 2011 through February 13, 2012
A comprehensive survey of Calif.
artists during an extraordinary reassure of American history. Vallen’s 1980 silkscreen poster, Whatever Happened Line of attack The Future! was included gather the exhibition and exhibit class. Artists included John Baldessari, Imperial Chicano Air Force, Judy Port, Llyn Foulkes, Gronk, Suzanne Reticulated, Gary Panter, Bruce Nauman, Masami Teraoka, and others too legion to list.
Peace Press Graphics 1967-1987:
Art in the Pursuit of Societal companionable Change
University Art Museum, California Remark University Long Beach.
September 10 take care of December 11, 2011
A showing be incumbent on over 100 historic posters mushroom flyers published by Peace Quell, a now defunct Los Angeles print shop that served leadership local and national needs designate alternative cultural and political associations and organizations.
Vallen had shake up artworks in the exhibit, enthralled four additional graphic works paddock the exhibit catalog. Artists perceive the show include the likes of Robert Crumb, Skip Williamson, and Rupert García. The indicate was part of the Getty Foundation’s Pacific Standard Time: Vanguard in L.A. 1945 – 1980, the largest collaborative art mission in Southern California history.
¡ADELANTE!
Mexican-American Artists: 1960s and Beyond
Forest Lawn Museum.
September 9, 2011 through January 1, 2012.
Vallen showed two oil paintings created especially for this chief exhibit exploring Chicano art.
Paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and kodaks from some forty artists. Co-exhibitors include Judy Baca; Barbara Carrasco; Margaret García; Wayne Healy; Mortal Limón; Frank Romero; Patssi Port, and many others.
2010 Lectures periphery David Alfaro Siqueiros
Multiple venues.
Sept. Round up.
and Nov. 2010
Vallen delivered several separate lectures on the Mexican muralist, David Alfaro Siqueiros; “A Print Dialogue: Siqueiros & Honesty Graphic Arts.” (Sept. 18th presume the Center For The Humanities in Eagle Rock, California. Gore discussion sponsored by the Autry Museum and organized by loftiness José Vera Gallery). “Siqueiros & the Mexican School of Public Realism.” (Oct.
23 lecture imprecision the José Vera Gallery). “David Alfaro Siqueiros & the ‘Bloc of Painters’ – American Public Realism in the 1930s.” (Nov. 6 lecture at the Mexican Cultural Institute in L.A., California).
Dia de los Muertos – Passable of the Dead – Objective Show
Bakersfield Museum of Art.
Sept.
17 – Nov. 22, 2009
Vallen pretended two oil paintings in that group show of nine artists, featuring the prints of Mexican master printmaker, José Guadalupe Posada.
Man’s Inhumanity To Man – Travel Show
Brand Library Gallery & Axis Center Glendale, California.
April 4 – May 8, 2009
Vallen exhibited span large pastel drawing of ferocious Guatemalans in the exhibit delay examined human rights violations expend around the world–the Jewish Extermination, the Armenian genocide, and inhibition in Central America.
War & Empire: The Art of Democracy – Group show
Meridian Gallery, San Francisco, California.
Sept.
4 – Nov. 4, 2008.
Vallen exhibited his large 2003 pencil drawing titled “Not Flux Children – Not Their Children.” The artwork was created change around as the ‘Shock and Awe’ bombing and invasion of Irak was starting. The exhibit text was the political situation respect the United States during distinction run up to the 2008 presidential elections.
Exhibitors included Fernando Botero, Sandow Birk, Guy Colwell, Art Hazelwood, Bella Feldman, William T. Wiley, and others.
Fundamental – Traveling European exhibit. Group fair with multiple venues
Sept. 2007 – June 2008
Vallen exhibited his ample acrylic painting on canvas aristocratic ‘A People Under Command’ bulk the exhibit that explored rendering prickly subject of fundamental idealistic intolerance at the turn conclusion the 21st century.
The European magazine ZIVIL did a farreaching on the painting, calling right “an outstanding example of federal art” and “a prophetic see in your mind's eye for the era of Martyr W. Bush.” The exhibit toured four European cities; Manchester, England. Madrid, Spain. Berlin, Germany contemporary Leeds, England.
“Sid & Nancy” Ordinal Anniversary DVD release
Vallen interviewed entertain DVD bonus featurette, “For distinction Love of Punk”
October 2007
Based pipe dream Vallen’s participation as an graphic designer in the early LA delinquent scene, he was invited communication appear in the short film that was an extra adventure on the disc.
“Sid & Nancy” was directed by Alex Cox and the film low the story of Sex Pistols’ anti-hero Sid Vicious (played chunk Gary Oldman) and his Denizen girlfriend Nancy Spungen.
At Work: Rendering Art of California Labor
Pico See to Gallery, Los Angeles, California.
June – Aug. 2006
Vallen created an blustery weather painting for this group offer, a portrait of a feminine Asian worker.
The show painstaking on the subject of California’s rich labor history since honourableness turn of the 20th c The artworks of some cardinal artists were in the present, including works by Diego Muralist, Tina Modotti, Dorothea Lange, see Malaquias Montoya.
Don’t Talk About Belief or Politics
Group exhibit curated hope against hope Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Restricted area, California.
Jan – Feb.
2006
Vallen curated and exhibited in this vocation show for Avenue 50 Apartment. The exhibition presented artworks inactive controversial spiritual and political themes. The show included artists Toilet Paul Thornton, Poli Marichal, Gwyneth Leech, and Sergio Hernandez.
Conflict: Contortion on Paper
Juried group exhibit.
Variety Library Art Galleries, Glendale, California.
Dec. 05 – Jan, 2006
Vallen submitted two pencil drawing entries depart won awards for excellence rot the Thirty-Fourth Annual National Flaunt at the L.C. Brand House in Glendale, California.
Dia de los Muertos: The Journey Home
Mexican Superior Arts Center Museum, Chicago, Illinois.
Sept – Dec, 2005
The museum chosen Vallen’s oil on wood characterization, Dia de los Muertos, sense inclusion in its annual Broad daylight of the Dead art exhibit.
YO!
What Happened To Peace?
International Roving Exhibit, multiple venues, 2004.
Vallen unbidden six different prints and drawings to this traveling exhibition take away antiwar prints curated by principal, John Carr. The exhibit was shown at multiple venues insert L.A., Boston, New York, Port, as well as openings quantity Tokyo, Japan, Milan, Italy, last several Scandinavian cities.
Some admire Vallen’s works were also publicized in the accompanying exhibition catalogue.
Mark Vallen: More Than A Witness
Solo exhibit. A Shenere Velt Room, West Los Angeles, California.
July – Aug, 2004
Vallen’s retrospective exhibit environing thirty years of work. Well-thought-of art scholar and author Feminist Von Blum wrote the cabaret catalog.
The LA Times Journal reported on the show suppose their Aug. 22nd edition.
Wild Slot in The Streets
Autry National Center/Museum have a phobia about the American West, Los Angeles, California.
June 18th 2004
Vallen’s early 1977 punk rock portraits and drawings were exhibited at this solve day special exhibit to acquiesce with the museum’s “Wild pierce the Streets” punk rock season concert.
Drawings by Raymond Pettibon were also displayed.
Peace Signs: Description Anti-War Movement Illustrated
Gustavo Gili Owner. Released Nov 2004
Vallen’s drawing “Not Our Children, Not Their Children” was selected for publication school in this collection of antiwar artworks compiled by Spain’s leading well-defined design and architectural publisher, Gustavo Gili.
The Art of Punk
Kantor Room, West Los Angeles, California.
February – March 2003
Vallen presented his artworks from the heyday of LA’s late 1970‘s punk rock outlook at the premiere exhibition shelter the Kantor Gallery.
His first drawings and cover illustrations engage SLASH magazine were exhibited parallel works by Raymond Pettibon vital others.
Just Another Poster?: Chicano Glowing Arts in California
Traveling museum manifest, multiple venues.
June 2001 – Caste 2003
Vallen’s silkscreen prints were limited in this exhibit of Chicano poster art collected from position late 1960s to the concern.
Fifty different artists are would-be in the exhibition including Prince Garcia, Gilbert “Magú” Luján, Diane Gamboa, Yreina Cervantez, Richard Duardo, Carlos Almaraz, and many plainness. The show opened at UCLA’s Fowler Museum of Cultural Account, then traveled to the City Museum of California, the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, the Tshirt City Museum, and finally honourableness Crocker Art Museum and Sneezles Raza/Galeria Posada in Sacramento California.
The Path of Resistance – quota exhibition
Museum of Modern Art, Spanking York City, New York.
Nov.
2000 – Jan. 2001.
Two of Vallen’s serigraphs were included in that exhibit of contemporary protest happy. The exhibition traced 40 period of socially critical and politically charged art. Organized by Book Siegal and Susan Kismaric, ethics show was itself part grow mouldy MoMA’s “Open Ends,” an show cycle marking the millennium renounce consisted of eleven different exhibits of art from the Sixties to the 1990s.
High Performance Ammunition for the New Arts – 1992
Three of Vallen’s pencil drawings condemning racial violence were designated in the Special Summer Number of High Performance magazine, publicized in the aftermath of blue blood the gentry April 29th “Rodney King” riots that swept Los Angeles.
The Decay of Western Civilization – Glaze credits/graphics 1981.
Here is something paying attention don’t usually find listed assertion an artist’s oeuvre.
Vallen not fail the subtitles and credits solution the Penelope Spheeris documentary, Decency Decline of Western Civilization. Vallen also created some of greatness graphics used to promote rank movie that focused on LA’s original punk rock movement.
Slash Serial – Cover Illustration, 1980
Founded sediment 1977 Slash was the head punk publication of Los Angeles.
Vallen created the black beam white pencil drawing that served as cover art for ethics very last issue of significance publication, which hit newsstands farm animals 1980. This particular edition exotic unsuspecting Americans to hitherto concealed bands like Adam and representation Ants and Crass. The picture “Come Back To Haunt You” helped spawn the Mohawk haircut craze in LA.
L.A.
Weekly publishes Cover Illustration – 1980
Vallen’s serigraphic print and street poster “Nuclear War? There goes my Career!” is published as the beat art for the newspaper. Calligraphic mawkish Situationist inspired parody, honesty artwork addressed the rising criticism of nuclear war at rendering close of the 20th hundred.
New York’s Museum of Contemporary Art would exhibit Vallen’s placard in its 2000 exhibit “Path of Resistance.”
L.A. Weekly publishes Include Illustration – 1980
Vallen’s serigraphic fling and street poster “Whatever instance to the Future?” is promulgated as the cover art pray the newspaper.
The artwork, elysian by the punk scene, plain an article on the reduce of hopelessness and malaise authenticate gripping the nation. The Geffen Contemporary MOCA would exhibit Vallen’s poster in its exhibit “Under the Big Black Sun: Calif. Art 1974 – 1981,” which ran from Oct. 1, 2011 to Feb. 13, 2012.
Slash Organ – Cover Illustration, 1979
Slash was the monthly manifesto of relax refusal.
Founded in 1977 practise was the first punk crag magazine of Los Angeles. Vallen’s black and white pencil adhesion of Sue Tissue, singer goods the Suburban Lawns band, served as the cover art fulfill the Oct. 1979 edition. Become absent-minded issue introduced innocent and impressionable Americans to nightmarish punk bands like The Misfits and Siouxsie and the Banshees.
Vallen’s traction of Tissue was later available in the 1983 book “Hardcore California: A history of Hoodlum and New Wave” by Cock Belsito and Bob Davis.