Mark Grotjahn

Mark Grotjahn, an American painter renowned for his abstract compositions and striking geometric works, is celebrated for his explorations of perspective.

Biography of Mark Grotjahn

Born in 1968 in Pasadena, California, Grotjahn spent his formative years in the Bay Area before settling in Los Angeles, where he currently resides and creates.

Grotjahn's artistic journey began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Berkeley. During his career, he honed his craft as an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Madison, Maine, in 1995.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1996, Grotjahn briefly operated a gallery called Room 702 in Hollywood before transitioning to full-time artistry. His commitment to his craft led to various opportunities, including a role as Visiting Scholar at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco in 2011/12 and later, joining the board of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, as an artist trustee in 2014.

Grotjahn's body of work has garnered widespread recognition through solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions such as the UCLA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles (2005), the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York (2006), and the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Throughout his career, he has continued to push boundaries and captivate audiences with his bold, thought-provoking creations.

Mark Grotjahn's Art Style

Grotjahn's artistic evolution stemmed from his early foray into conceptual sign-making, where he meticulously replicated distinctive graphics and phrases found on local storefronts in Los Angeles. Transitioning to colored pencils marked a significant shift in his practice. From 1997 onward, Grotjahn delved into the exploration of radiant motifs across his paintings and drawings.

The Butterfly series, originating in 1997, showcases Grotjahn's adeptness in crafting intricate compositions characterized by luminous, tonal color palettes. However, a skiing accident resulting in a torn rotator cuff and a broken shoulder bone compelled Grotjahn to adapt his artistic process. Limited to short painting sessions, he explored less physically demanding techniques. This period led to the creation of the series of expansive Face Paintings, characterized by their simplistic geometric renditions of eyes, nose, and mouth arranged vertically.