Mark Yale Harris
figurative abstractions
A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Mark Yale Harris realized his passion in the Southwest; stone carving became his life’s work, asSanta Fe became home in the late 1990s. Dedicating himself to creating in 1996; with much tolearn, the artist chose a mentor who he had long admired to assist with honing his burgeoningartistic skills, sculptor Bill Prokopiof (Aleut, 1944-1999). In the spirit the nation’s most recog-nized Native American artist, Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1915-1994), Prokopiof and sculp-tor Doug Hyde (Nez Perce), took Harris under their wings, generously sharing their immense knowl-edge, talent, and vision. Inspired by the geographical region and grounded in the wisdom of histeachers, he began feverishly creating sculpture.
Transitioning into the life of a full-time artist required Harris’s passion to become his profession aswell. Prior to developing as an artist, Harris spent many years in the area of sustainable urbandevelopment (specifically real estate and hotels), a conventional career in which he was quitesuccessful, but not fully satisfied. The transition into a wholly fulfilling trade, was both challengingand exciting. The artistic passion that had existed just beneath the surface of Harris’s long-estab-lished business persona was finally able to present itself in tangible form. He accessed theinvaluable experience of his mentors, along with his own vision, to create an evolving body of workin alabaster, marble, limestone, and bronze, often combining different elements to bring forth aduality through creation.
Over the past fifteen years Harris has continued to challenge himself as a sculptor, finding itimportant to continue learning and teaching. Several intensive workshops, including studies withTerry Allen, Jo Harvey and James Surls, have expanded his understanding immensely. Harris’scharitable endeavors have been numerous; he sites his work with Fine Art for Children and Teens(FACT) in Santa Fe, New Mexico as especially gratifying.
In 2006, the artist challenged himself to create tabletop-sized maquettes in monumental proportions. Thefirst piece in this scale, Crush (61"x80"x20.5"), was met with rave reviews from critics and art aficionadosalike. Due to Harris’s ongoing examination of the sculptural form and progress within his medium, hiswork continues to be widely sought after and exhibited by reputable art venues.
Harris’s sculpture has been included in 60+ solo, museum and international exhibitions out of the 220+exhibitions outlined on his resume. 85 publications have featured his sculpture (books, magazines,newspapers) in the past 10 years. In addition, ARTWORKinternational Inc. Press published Mark YaleHarris Figurative Abstractions in 2010 and Mark Yale Harris Untamed in 2011 as part of their AcclaimedArtist Series. As well, Mark Yale Harris, A Retrospective was published in 2006, updated and reissued in2008. All three books document the important works created thus far in this sculptor’s career.
Current works can be found in many public collections, including: Booth Western Art Museum -Cartersville, Georgia; Herman Memorial Hospital - Houston, Texas; State of New Mexico - Ruidoso, NewMexico; Four Seasons Hotel - Chicago, Illinois; and Thompson Crossing Sculpture Park - Fort Collins,Colorado. Furthermore, Harris’s sculpture has recently been featured at the Open Air Museum - Ube,Japan; Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art - Biloxi, Mississippi; Polk Museum of Art - Lakeland, Florida; City ofRoanoke Historic District - Roanoke, Virginia; and The Village Green Sculpture Park - Cashiers, NorthCarolina. Harris’s sculpture is represented by twenty galleries in the US and UK.
Mark Yale Harris realized his passion in the Southwest; stone carving became his life’s work, asSanta Fe became home in the late 1990s. Dedicating himself to creating in 1996; with much tolearn, the artist chose a mentor who he had long admired to assist with honing his burgeoningartistic skills, sculptor Bill Prokopiof (Aleut, 1944-1999). In the spirit the nation’s most recog-nized Native American artist, Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1915-1994), Prokopiof and sculp-tor Doug Hyde (Nez Perce), took Harris under their wings, generously sharing their immense knowl-edge, talent, and vision. Inspired by the geographical region and grounded in the wisdom of histeachers, he began feverishly creating sculpture.
Transitioning into the life of a full-time artist required Harris’s passion to become his profession aswell. Prior to developing as an artist, Harris spent many years in the area of sustainable urbandevelopment (specifically real estate and hotels), a conventional career in which he was quitesuccessful, but not fully satisfied. The transition into a wholly fulfilling trade, was both challengingand exciting. The artistic passion that had existed just beneath the surface of Harris’s long-estab-lished business persona was finally able to present itself in tangible form. He accessed theinvaluable experience of his mentors, along with his own vision, to create an evolving body of workin alabaster, marble, limestone, and bronze, often combining different elements to bring forth aduality through creation.
Over the past fifteen years Harris has continued to challenge himself as a sculptor, finding itimportant to continue learning and teaching. Several intensive workshops, including studies withTerry Allen, Jo Harvey and James Surls, have expanded his understanding immensely. Harris’scharitable endeavors have been numerous; he sites his work with Fine Art for Children and Teens(FACT) in Santa Fe, New Mexico as especially gratifying.
In 2006, the artist challenged himself to create tabletop-sized maquettes in monumental proportions. Thefirst piece in this scale, Crush (61"x80"x20.5"), was met with rave reviews from critics and art aficionadosalike. Due to Harris’s ongoing examination of the sculptural form and progress within his medium, hiswork continues to be widely sought after and exhibited by reputable art venues.
Harris’s sculpture has been included in 60+ solo, museum and international exhibitions out of the 220+exhibitions outlined on his resume. 85 publications have featured his sculpture (books, magazines,newspapers) in the past 10 years. In addition, ARTWORKinternational Inc. Press published Mark YaleHarris Figurative Abstractions in 2010 and Mark Yale Harris Untamed in 2011 as part of their AcclaimedArtist Series. As well, Mark Yale Harris, A Retrospective was published in 2006, updated and reissued in2008. All three books document the important works created thus far in this sculptor’s career.
Current works can be found in many public collections, including: Booth Western Art Museum -Cartersville, Georgia; Herman Memorial Hospital - Houston, Texas; State of New Mexico - Ruidoso, NewMexico; Four Seasons Hotel - Chicago, Illinois; and Thompson Crossing Sculpture Park - Fort Collins,Colorado. Furthermore, Harris’s sculpture has recently been featured at the Open Air Museum - Ube,Japan; Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art - Biloxi, Mississippi; Polk Museum of Art - Lakeland, Florida; City ofRoanoke Historic District - Roanoke, Virginia; and The Village Green Sculpture Park - Cashiers, NorthCarolina. Harris’s sculpture is represented by twenty galleries in the US and UK.
Mark Yale Harris, featured on the the cover of Contemporary Sculptors: 184 International Artists
published 2012 by Schiffer Books
Bronze 42"x10"x10"
2008
2008
$9,500.
Mark Yale Harris, Figurative Abstractions
published 2011 by ARTWORKinternational INC, as part of the Acclaimed Artist Series
Mark Yale Harris, Untamed
published 2011 by ARTWORKinternational INC, as part of the Acclaimed Artist Series
Crush (enlargement)
Bronze
61"x80"x20.5"
2007
$65,000.
