ARTIST STATEMENT A painting will, or will not be made. For all the romance involved in creation, there is a pragmatic objectivity at work in the studio… Whatever profundity one hopes for is found in the labor undertaken & endured.
I believe my work is the integration of 2 disparate painting traditions- the coarse, painterly approach of New York & the profoundly technical innovation of Southern California.
Having maintained studios on both coasts for nearly 2 decades, the color of Southern California has bled into the stark architectonics of NYC & violent incident has been softened (I would hope) by a rigorously material lucidity.
Your adventures follow you into the studio. What happens next is up to you…
My paintings are imbued by my travels, literature, various martial pursuits, time in the ocean, a day with my Daughter & at times, the various color relationships of my Wife’s auburn hair, backlit by the sun.
Each Individual piece begins with a rigorously knifed body of paint. Once a sufficiently robust ground is achieved, an initial “drawing” element is applied, demarcating a potential formal composition. Generally, the work will then be set aside for a time. Eventually, aqueous layers of paint are applied & once dry, sanded into, revealing a history of motion & interaction.
From there, the process begins anew.
The creation of a painting is the telling of a tale.
BIOGRAPHY Mark Zimmermann, an American artist and writer, was born to a military family in Munich, Germany, in 1967 and grew up in Hawaii and the southern United States. Since 1998, he has exhibited his paintings in 23 solo shows and numerous group exhibitions throughout the United States, Europe & Australia.
In discussing his work, the editor and writer, Larry Qualls noted, “…a majestic landscape narrative… they illuminate the nature of painting itself. In a sense what these paintings do is bring a synthesis of the conceptual and the realistic; it is as if there is the conflux of two grand traditions: the purely abstract and the purely objective.”
In 2000, Zimmermann became the first American artist to exhibit in a commercial gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 2009, he was commissioned to create of suite of monumental paintings for the VIP Lounge of the Palazzo Tower Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2010, he was photographed by Andres Serrano, in a project documenting New York artists. Most recently, Zimmermann has been the subject of 3 short films by Los Angeles filmmaker, Eric Minh Swenson and London based filmmaker, Lawrence Berry.
As a writer, he has widely published poetry and short fiction, as well as essays and critical works on painting, photography, sculpture, architecture, theatre, and film throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. His writing has been translated into six languages. He lives and works in New York City, Fishkill, New York and Encino, California.
RESUME
b. 1967. Lives & works in NYC, NY, Fishkill, NY & Encino, CA
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2021: Much That Undoubtedly Came to Pass…, George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA Meditations, Kasper Contemporary, East Quogue, NY 2020: Infinitum, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY 2018: Meditations, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY 2016: Achilles & Other Paintings, Lyons Wier & Farley, NYC, NY 2015: Atlas Trilogy & Other Paintings, Narthex Gallery @ St. Peter’s Church, NYC, NY 2014: Tea Ceremony & Other Paintings, Gallery 66, Cold Spring, NY 2012: Elias Arts, NYC, NY 2011: Paia Contemporary, Paia, Maui, HI 210 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2009: Roger Ramsay Gallery, Chicago, IL The Candy Factory Performance & Art Space, Brooklyn, NY The Palazzo Tower Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV 2005: Watchung Arts Center, Watchung, NJ The Zodiac Project, POST, Los Angeles, CA 2002: Deep River, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY 2001: Hotel Presalpina, Chexbres, Switzerland Deep River, Galerie Viking, Sofia, Bulgaria Deep River Paintings, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY 2000: Galerie Melon, Sofia, Bulgaria Galerie Expressions-Lagrouni, Geneva, Switzerland
TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS 2019: In Tandem: James Austin Murray & Mark Zimmermann, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2021: Art Market Hamptons, (Kasper Contemporary), East Hampton, NY Gallery Selects, 2021, George Billis Gallery LA, Los Angeles, CA 2020: Grey/Gray (Matter), Divisible Projects, Dayton, OH Hamptons Virtual Art Fair (Lyons Wier Gallery), Southhampton, NY Chrysalistasis, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY 2019: A Short Survey of Contemporary Abstraction, Bergen PAC, Edgewood, NJ New York Centric, The Art Students League of New York, NYC, NY 2018: RNOP: New Work For a New System, Smith & Co., Cincinnati, OH Autumnal Group Exhibition, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY Black Box, Saarlandisches Kunsterhaus, Saarbrucken, Germany Fiction, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH Black Box, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Metz, France Fears Collapse Inside, Corridor, Dayton, OH The Greatest Show on Earth: Sideshow Nation VI, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2017: Black Box, Kunstlerhaus Saar, Saarbrucken, Germany Black Box, La “S” Grand Atelier, Vielsalm, Belgium fiction, Class Room, Coventry, United Kingdom Luminance, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY fiction, Raygun Projects, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia fiction, Apothecary, Chattanooga, TN fiction, Volunteer State College, Nashville, TN fiction, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA fiction, CANIAD Art Center, Richmond, CA Sideshow Nation V: Thru The Rabbit Hole, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2016: Art Miami (Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC), Miami, FLA fiction, Angelika Studios, London, United Kingdom fiction, Boecker Contemporary, Heidelberg, Germany fiction, Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL Converging Landscapes, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY Palm Springs Fine Art Fair (Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC) Palm Springs, CA Forethought, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY Sideshow Nation IV: Thru The Rabbit Hole, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY Back to Mine: v2, DIVISIBLE, Dayton, OH 2015: Unlimited Potential, Lyons Wier Gallery, NYC, NY Terrace Invitational, Terrace Studios & Gallery, London, United Kingdom Postcards From the Edge, Luhring Augustine Gallery, NYC, NY Inaugural: Ressle/Chun, The Viewing Room @ Waterfall Mansion, NYC, NY Art Show Bedford (Inness Hancock Fine Art), Bedford, NY Sideshow Nation III: Circle the Wagons, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2014: Back to Mine: v1, DIVISIBLE, Dayton, OH Sideshow Nation II: At the Alamo, Sideshow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY The 9th Annual Terrace Open, The Terrace Studios & Gallery, London, United Kingdom Divisible: please, actually, introspective, DIVISIBLE, Dayton, OH fiction, The Inlet, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH fiction, The Neon Heater Gallery, Fairley, OH 2013: The Artists of 122 Washington Avenue, The Candy Factory, Brooklyn, NY 2012: Perceptions of Gesture, China Brilliance Gallery, NYC, NY 2011: Holiday Exhibition, Paia Contemporary, Paia, Maui, HI Holiday Haze, China Brilliance Gallery, NYC, NY The Dobson Collection, Danvillian Gallery, Danville, VA Summer Exhibition, Paia Contemporary, Paia, Maui, HI Heart Gallery 10th Anniversary Benefit Exhibition, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM Oink, 210 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY 2010: The Winter Salon (Bjorn Ressle Art Projects), Elga Wimmer Gallery, NYC, NY Summer Salon, Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, Bridgehampton, NY San Francisco Fine Art Fair (Andi Campognone Projects), San Francisco, CA Red Dot Art Fair (Andi Campognone Projects), NYC, NY 2009: The New Irrascibles, Andi Campognone Projects, Pomona, CA 2008: The Winter Salon: Works on Paper, Bjorn Ressle Gallery, NYC, NY 2007: Out of Line, University Art Gallery, USC-Stanislaus, Turlock, CA Strata, Lemmons Contemporary, NYC, NY Pink, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA 2006: Off the Wall, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA Out of Line, Parks Exhibition Center, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Idyllwild, CA 2005: A Common Thread, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA Out of Line, La Sierra University, Riverside, CA Abstract Los Angeles, Visual Arts Center, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 2005 (cont.):, Monothon, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA 2004: Luster, Gensler Design Center, San Francisco, CA 10th Annual Holiday Group Show, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA Abstract Los Angeles, Soho Myriad, Atlanta, GA Dialogue Abstract: Recent Paintings & Drawings, SPACE, NYC, NY Continental Divide, Planet Thailand, Brooklyn, NY 2003: 9th Annual Holiday Group Show, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA Postcards From the Edge, Galerie Lelong, NYC, NY The Price is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN No Chaser: Straight Ahead Abstract Painting, POST, Los Angeles, CA Theories: Abstract New York, Roger Ramsay Gallery, Chicago, IL Theories: Abstract New York, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY 2002: 8th Annual Holiday Group Show, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 15, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY 2001: 7th Annual Holiday Group Show, Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA Conspiracy II: New Paintings, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY 2000: Significant Pursuits: Paint & Geometry, Smack Mellon Studios, Brooklyn, NY Union Exhibition, Galerie Shipka 6, Sofia, Bulgaria Conspiracy, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY Sisyphus Rising, Limelight Gallery, NYC, NY Paint Club, Markham-Murray Gallery, NYC, NY 1999: Perimeters, L.I.C.K. Ltd. Fine Art, Long Island City, NY New York Undiscovered, Markham-Murray Gallery, NYC, NY 1998: New York Art Exchange (Abraham Lubelski Gallery), NYC, NY
LECTURES/VISITING ARTIST 2019: Carey Institute For Global Good, Rennselaerville, NY (Kipaipai Artist Development) 2018: Donkey Mill Art Center, Holualoa, Hawai’i (Kipaipai Artist Development) 2015: The Narthex Gallery @ St. Peter’s Church, NYC, NY 2014: Gallery 66, Cold Spring, NY 2005: Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 2000: The China Club, NYC, NY Galerie Viking, Sofia, Bulgaria
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Zinn, Tamar. “Why I Draw: Artists & Their Sketchbooks”, TamarZinn.blogspot.com, NYC, NY. May 28, 2020 Nys Dambrot, Shayna. “A Slow & Mad New Language”, Essay for Meditations: Selected Paintings 2018-’19, October 2019 Halasz, Piri. “Unadorned Abstraction: New York Centric at the Art Students League”, From the Mayor’s Doorstep, NYC, NY, April 13, 2019 Corwin, William. “New York Centric”, The Brooklyn Rail, Brooklyn, NY, May 2019 Halasz, Piri. “Big Top Event at Which Sideshow Shines: Sideshow Nation V”, From the Mayor’s Doorstep, NYC, NY February 15, 2017 Murray, James Austin. “Interview with Mark Zimmermann”, Art Orbiter, NYC, NY November 13, 2015 Gould, Rachel. “Decoding the Abstract: Unlimited Potential”, The Culture Trip, NYC, NY July 20, 2015 Shiroda, Mika. “A Master of Luck & Incident” (Translated from the Japanese), Gotham Bleau, NYC, NY November,15, 2012 Mccullar, Josh. “New York Artists Open Gallery in Danville”, VA Modern, Danville, VA, September, 8, 2011 Bin, Layla. “Art in View”, The Maui News, Lahaina, Maui, HI. March 3,2011 Jenison, David. “The New Irascibles, Andi Campognone Projects.” The Inland Empire Weekly, Vol. 4, #32, November 18,2009 Frank, Peter. “Pick of the Week”, Los Angeles, CA, LA Weekly, January 15, 2005 Gleason, Mat. “Bergamont & Beyond”, Los Angeles, CA, An Editor’s Life Unedited, January 20, 2005 Gilbert, Deborah. “Planet Thailand, Etc.” NYC, NY: Greenline, March 14, 2004 Costa, Robert. “Abstraction Redux.” NYC, NY: Exhibition text, Dialogue Abstract: Recent Paintings, March 11, 2004 Baker, Robert C. “The Premature Burial: Mark Zimmermann & the Death of Painting.” Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, PAJ: A Journal of Performance & Art, Volume 25, #1 (PAJ 73), January 23, 2003 Nicholova, Inna. “Mark Zimmermann Provokes Our Capital with Deep River.” Sofia, Bulgaria: Dnevnik, August 30, 2001 Mikhailova, Antonia. “Galerie Viking Presents American Mark Zimmermann.” Sofia, Bulgaria: Hubova Zhena, Sept. 3, 2001 Carter, Holland. “For Hikers Seeking Art, Brooklyn is a Left Bank.” NYC, NY: The New York Times, December 15, 2000 Ivanova, Zlatka. “Zimmermann Unplugged.” Sofia, Bulgaria: Podium, Volume 17, August/September 2000 Bernard, Pascal. “Ententes.” Geneva, Switzerland: Tribune de Geneve, May 29, 2000 Nelson, Samantha. “PIcks.” Brooklyn, NY: Waterfront Week, Volume 8/9, April 22, 1998
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS The Parisian Sands Resort Hotel, Macau, China The Hilton Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia The Palazzo Tower Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV Norwegian Cruise Line The Four Seasons Hotel, Washington D.C. The Fairview, Seattle, WA DC Homewood Suites, Washington D.C. The JW Marriott Essex House Hotel, NYC, NY The JW Marriott Nashville, TN The Mclean Hilton, Washington D.C. The Marriott Convention Center, Shaumberg, IL