Mark H. Campbell was born in Norfolk, Va. In his youth and while studying art, he acquired his deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and genius of painting masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer and Salvador Dali. He was a Rollins College recipient of the Cornell Fine Arts Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He also has a Masters Degree of Fine Arts in Painting and Sculpture from the Academy of Art College, San Francisco, Calif.
Campbell’s art hangs in the permanent collection at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Mich., The Mobile Museum of Art, Ala., Hampden-Sydney College, Va., The Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Mass. and The University of San Francisco, Calif.
He is widely collected by celebrities and business leaders. Campbell’s art is in the private collections of Robert and Lillian Bohlen, Michael Eidson, Carlos Santana, Peter Bartlow, Ritz Carlton Tahoe, Aretha Franklin, Michael Narada Walden and others. His work continues to be featured in galleries alongside works by artists such as Picasso, Dali, Chagall and other Modern Masters that inspired him as a child.
He was chosen to add his artistic vision to a violin for a Chicago Symphony Orchestra auction and benefit in June 2010 (http://cso.org/Page.aspx?id=11599.) He has been a published artist and author since 2006. His work and words continue to be published in American Art Collector and World of Art Masters of Today. He was also a Panel Speaker at the Commonwealth Club of California discussing art in the community with members of the San Francisco Arts Commission. Campbell’s process, while continuing to evolve and expand begins with a term he coined called “Subjective Projection.”
This refers to his belief that his art stems from a dynamic interplay between nature and his creative subconscious. After the image has been so discovered, then it is brought into being or enhanced by his hand to the degree that the viewer adopts that same sense of discovery. Subjective Projection is the same activity that occurs when we as children can’t help but see images in clouds, rocks and other naturally occurring phenomena. He takes this activity further providing enhancements to make the naturally occurring images more apparent to others. He seeks out beautiful natural canvases of exotic wood and semi-precious stone upon which his subconscious and his imagination can cultivate images. Some works are a more direct imposition of his creativity, requiring a great deal of the artist’s hand, while others are almost entirely the natural canvasses with very few slight additions by the artist. He places great importance on Form and believes that works of art that refer accurately to these fundamental archetypes are those works that have survived and will continue to survive the tests of time. Campbell is keenly respectful of nature and works almost exclusively with non-toxic components while seeking out the most eco-friendly suppliers for all of his raw materials.
In 1996, he was hired to direct the successful Art With Elders program at Laguna Honda Hospital, the country’s largest skilled nursing facility located in San Francisco. Eldergivers and Art With Elders give seniors the opportunity to explore and develop latent artistic talents. Campbell continues as the Chief Administrator, organizing and teaching in this highly respected program. The program has gained prominence and has held high profile exhibitions at the MH de Young Museum, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Main Library, the Di Rosa Preserve in Napa and others. He worked closely with architects to help plan the art department for the rebuild of the new five hundred million dollar hospital the new building will open in May 2010. In 2005 the grand reopening of the MH de Young Museum displayed work by the Art With the Elders program along with the art of Wayne Thiebaud. This program has given thousands of seniors a new lease on life by introducing them to the adventure of art. As the director it remains one of Campbell’s most prized achievements. “The Art With Elders program is an inspired model of productive engagement for seniors and it spotlights the enormous reservoir of untapped creativity in our elder population.” Harry Parker III, former Director, and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. (http://www.eldergivers.org)
5-4-2010 |
