Mark Karasick
About
born in 1959 and raised in Canada, attended Art College in Toronto. He was introduced to encaustic painting in 1983 and has since continued to experiment with this Greco-Roman technique, mostly known through the Egyptian mummy portraits from Fayum and Hawara. In 1989, during his first visit to Italy, his work came to the attention of Swiss-Italian collector Signor Carlo Monzino, who sponsored Karasick to remain in Italy for five years of continued research and practice.
Karasick has exhibited his works in solo and group exhibitions across North America, Asia and Europe. And in Canada and London, he has exhibited alongside artists such as:
- Anish Kapoor
- Bill Viola
- Nobuyoshi Araki
- Matt Collishaw
His most recent exhibition took place at the National Gallery of Sweden. The show toured to the National Gallery of Finland where he exhibited with numerous artists he admires, including:
- Marina Abramović
- George Baselitz
- Jake and Dinos Chapman
- Jeff Koons
- Jenny Saville
- Yinka Shonibare
- Gavin Turk
He was asked to carry a dialogue with an iconic work of his choice. The 4 x 6 metre encaustic painting he produced was a life-size winged ascending Christ figure. It was based on the study drawings of Michelangelo with the wings of the early aviator Otto Lilienthal, titled The Navigator.
After studying at art college in Toronto, Mark began to use the technique of encaustic painting in his work. This is an ancient Greco-Roman technique that involves using heated wax to which pigments are added and then applied to a surface.
His early career began in Italy where he came to the attention of collector Signor Carlo Monzino. Mark subsequently lived and worked in Italy for 5 years before moving to London.
His early career began in Italy where he came to the attention of collector Signor Carlo Monzino. Mark subsequently lived and worked in Italy for 5 years before moving to London.
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