Strange thoughts go through many people s minds. Some people seek out professional help to get rid of their strange thoughts. Mark Bodnar, on the other hand, is perfectly fine with what goes on in his head. All kinds of crazy characters and stories have been appearing for quite some time in the cartoon bonanza that is Mark s mind. Whether it s in the form of paintings, illustrations, animations, or toys, Mark s work brings forth the bizarre ideas that permeate every minute of his life. His imaginative paintings bring to mind the adventures of Our Gang , the tall tales of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, and that peculiar time right before we fall asleep.
Mark was born in Lorain, Ohio in 1978. He studied art and music for most of his life, which eventually led him to the Columbus College of Art and Design where he received a BFA in 2001. Since then he has been a freelance illustrator for publications like The New York Times, National Geographic, America, and various music magazines. He s done animation character design for the McGraw-Hill Companies and is currently finding a network home for his own animated series Stan Bayou .
In 2004, Mark collaborated with toy designer Trevor Zammit to create Sheetghosts , a line of collectible artist toys. Sheetghosts are made in limited production runs by Mark and Trevor and new characters are released at various times throughout the year.
Mark currently lives and paints in Columbus, Ohio, but sneaks away when he can. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries from New York to Portland.
Curator(s)
Jacquie Mahan
