Mark Yale Harris | Abstract Figurative sculptor | Tutt'Art@

Mark Yale Harris realized his true passion in the Southwest. Stone carving became his life’s work, as Santa Fe became his home in the late 1990s. He dedicated himself to creating in 1996, and with much to learn, the artist chose a mentor whom he had long admired to assist with honing his burgeoning artistic skills, sculptor Bill Prokopiof (Aleut, 1944-1999). In the spirit of the nation’s most recognized Native American artist, Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1915-1994), Prokopiof and sculptor Doug Hyde (Nez Perce) took Harris under their wings and generously shared their immense knowledge, talent, and vision. Inspired by the geographical region and grounded in the wisdom of his teachers, he began feverishly creating sculpture.

Transitioning into the life of a full-time artist required Harris’s passion to become his profession as well. Prior to developing as an artist, Harris spent many years in the area of sustainable urban development (specifically real estate and hotels), a conventional career in which he was quite successful, but not fully satisfied. The transition into a wholly fulfilling trade, was both challenging and exciting. The artistic passion that had existed just beneath the surface of Harris’s long established business persona was finally able to present itself in tangible form. He accessed the invaluable experience of his mentors, along with his own vision, to create an evolving body of work in alabaster, marble, limestone, and bronze, often combining different elements to bring forth a duality through creation.

Over the past fifteen years Harris has continued to challenge himself as a sculptor, finding it important to continue learning and teaching. Several intensive workshops, including studies with Terry Allen, Jo Harvey and James Surls, have expanded his understanding immensely. Harris’s charitable endeavors have been numerous; he cites his work with Fine Art for Children and Teens (FACT) in Santa Fe, New Mexico as especially gratifying.

Harris’s sculpture has been included in 80+ solo, museum and international exhibitions out of the 250+ exhibitions outlined on his resume. One Hundred+ publications have featured his sculpture (books, magazines, newspapers) in the past 10 years. In addition, ARTWORK international Inc. Press published Mark Yale Harris: Figurative Abstractions in 2010 and Mark Yale Harris: Untamed in 2011 as part of their Acclaimed Artist Series. As well, Mark Yale Harris, A Retrospective was published in 2006, updated and reissued in 2013. All three books document the important works created thus far in this sculptor’s career.

Exhibition highlights include: the Royal Academy of London; Marin MOCA; National Museum of Wildlife Art; Orange County Center for Contemorary Art; the Royal Scottish Academy; Monmouth Museum; La Grange Art Museum; National Sculpture Society; Roswell Museum of Art, Millicent Rodgers Museum; The Wildlife Experience Museum; Peach Arch Park International; Museum of the Southwest; Holter Museum; Masur Museum; Las Cruces Museum of Art; Chesterwood Museum; Palm Springs Art Museum and Austin Museum of Art.

Current works can be found in many permanent public collections, including: Hilton Hotels; Booth Western Art Museum - Cartersville, Georgia; Rock Resorts: La Posada Hotel - Santa Fe, New Mexico; Herman Memorial Hospital - Houston, Texas; State of New Mexico - Ruidoso, New Mexico; Four Seasons Hotel - Chicago, Illinois; and City of Roanoke Historic District - Roanoke, Virginia.

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, and The Village Green Sculpture Park - Cashiers, North Carolina. Harris’s sculpture is represented by twenty galleries in the US and UK.

Artist Statement:

"The purpose of my artwork is to provoke a perceptual, internal, and intellectual response for the viewer; A visual that speaks to life's experiences. To create symbols of universal connection and the relationship that one has to another and to nature".

Awards and Prizes:

2009 - Second Place, Sculpture - Museum of the Southwest, Group Exhibition - Midland, Texas;
2007 - Best of Show: Second Place, 3-d Mixed Media Division - Museum of the Southwest; Spring Juried Art Exhibition - Midland, Texas;
2007 - Honorable Mention, Beaumont Art League - Beaumont, Texas;
2002 - Sculpture / 3D, Roswell Museum, sponsor: Roswell Chamer of Commerce - Roswell, New Mexico;
1996 - First Place, Elisabet Ney Museum Sculpture Show - Austin, Texas.

Exhibition History of Mark Yale Harris

2013

The Figure Now, Fontbonne University - St. Louis, Missouri;
Monmouth Museum 34th Annual Juried Exhibition, Monmouth Museum - Lincroft, New Jersey;
Sculpture Walk Avera McKennan, Avera McKennan Hospital - Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

2012

SOFA Chicago - Chicago, Illinois;
*Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art - Jackson Hole, Wyoming;
*Booth Western Art Museum Gala, Booth Western Art Museum - Cartersville, GA;
*LaGrange Art Museum Biennial XXVII, LaGrange Art Museum - LaGrange, GA;
32nd Annual Exhibtion, Anderson Ranch Arts Center - Snowmass, Colorado;
*Mark Yale Harris - two-person exhibition, Mary Martin Gallery - Charleston, SC;
*Mark Yale Harris - two-person exhibition, Muse Gallery - Columbus, OH;
29th Annual Sculpture in the Park, Loveland High Plains Arts Council - Loveland, Colorado.

2011

SOFA Chicago - Chicago, Illinois;
*Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art - Jackson Hole, Wyoming;
*Mark Yale Harris Figurative Abstractions, Greenberg Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM;
SOFA West - Santa Fe, New Mexico;
WildAid Gala and Charity Auction, Julie Morgan Ballroom, Merchants Exchange Building- San Fransisco, CA;
Hosts include: Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan, Edward Norton, Bo Dereck, Ralph Fiennes;
*Turquoise Ball, Millicent Rogers Museum - Taos, NM
Mark Yale Harris, Debra Malotte, Pamela Rae, a three-person exhibition, Ramey Fine Art - Palm Desert, CA;
24th Annual Sculpture in the Park, Loveland High Plains Arts Council - Loveland, Colorado;
Borders: Visible and Invisible, Firehouse Plaza Art Gallery, NCC State University- Garden City, New York.

2010

SOFA West Santa Fe, New Mexico;
The SOFA West Lecture Series presents Mark Yale Harris, July 9, 2010 Santa Fe, New Mexico;
International Sculpture Exhibition, Artparks International Guernsey, England;
Grand Opening Exhibition, Fireside Gallery Bastrop, TX;
*Turquoise Ball, Millicent Rodgers Museum Taos, NM;
*Western Visions, National Museum of Wildlife Art Jackson Hole, Wyoming;
*Mark Yale Harris, Ramey Fine Art Palm Desert, CA;
In Family Unity, Unity of the World Khanty Mansisk, Russia August December (as a cultural program of the 39th World Chess Olympiad ).

2009

SOFA Chicago, Festival Hall, Navy Pier Chicago, Illinois;
Group Exhibition, La Posada Gallery Santa Fe, NM;
*Mark Yale Harris, Thornwood Gallery Dallas, Texas;
*Small Works, The Wildlife Experience Museum Parker, Colorado;
Arts Council of Oklahoma City Sculpture Park Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
International Sculpture Exhibition, Artparks International Guernsey, England;
SOFA West Santa Fe, New Mexico;
EdgePosure, Group Exhibition, The Edge Galley Santa Fe, New Mexico;
Juried Exhibition, Red Brick Council for the Arts Aspen, Colorado Juror James Surls;
Benefit Auction for the Arts, Dallas Contemporary Dallas, Texas;
Twelfth Annual Peace Arch Park International Sculpture Exhibition;
States/Canada Peace Anniversary Association British Columbia Canada;
Spring Sculpture Show, Texas Society of Sculptors Austin, Texas;
Make a Wish Foundation, Benefit Auction Columbus, Ohio;
In the Know, Auction benefiting the Mental Health America of Greater Dallas and Dallas, Texas;
Faculty Club Art Auction, Ohio State University Columbus, OH;
Contemporary Sculpture 2009, The Western Colorado Center for the Arts Grand Junction, Colorado;
*Mark Yale Harris, Park Place Gallery Kansas City, Kansas;
*Mark Yale Harris, A Muse Gallery Columbus, Ohio;
*Mark Yale Harris, Gallery 344 Kalamazoo, Michigan;
*Midland Arts Association Show, Museum of the Southwest Midland, Texas Jurors: David Drummond and J. K. Drummond.

2008

*George Ohr`s National Challenge, Ohr-O`Keefe Museum of Art - Biloxi, Mississippi;
*City of Roanoke Historic District Temporary Exhibition - Roanoke, Virginia;
Art Garden Party, La Posada de Santa Fe, Rock Resorts - Santa Fe, New Mexico;
23rd Annual Conservatory Art Classic, Bosque Conservatory - Clifton, Texas;
*Eighth Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition, Polk Museum of Art - Lakeland, Florida;
Mark Yale Harris: Featured Artist, Palm Desert Art Walk, SR Brennen Gallery - Palm Desert, California;
RiverSpan Sculpture Group, Juried Exhibition - Cincinnati, Ohio;
25th Annual Sculpture in the Park, Loveland High Plains Arts Council - Loveland, Colorado;
*A National Juried Art Competition, Farmington Museum - Farmington, New Mexico;
*2008 Bi-Annual Invitational Exhibition, The Village Green Sculpture Park - Cashiers, North Carolina;
SOFA Chicago - Chicago, Illinois;
American Heart Association Benefit Auction - Austin, Texas;
*Mark Yale Harris, Thornwood Gallery - Dallas, Texas;
Glamour and Gauze Gala, St. Vincent`s Hospital Benefit - Santa Fe, New Mexico;
Art for Life: Aids Benefit, Downtown Columbus - Columbus, Ohio;
La Posada de Santa Fe, Rock Resorts - Santa Fe, New Mexico.

2007

*21st Century Regionalist: Art of the New West, Booth Western Art Museum - Cartersville, Georgia;
New Mexico Sculptors Guild at the Sculpture Ranch, New Mexico Sculptors Guild - Santa Fe, New Mexico;
First Annual Sculpture Show, Red Brick Center for the Arts - Aspen, Colorado;
*Red River Valley International Juried Exhibition, Red River Valley Museum - Vernon, Texas;
*MAA Spring Slide Juried Art Exhibition, Museum of the Southwest - Midland, Texas;
BAL National Competition, Beaumont Art League - Beaumont, Texas;
Where the Wild Things Are, Austin Visual Arts Association - Austin, Texas;
24th Annual Sculpture in the Park, Loveland High Plains Arts Council - Loveland, Colorado;
Austin Bergstrom International Airport Exhibition, Austin Visual Arts Association - Austin, Texas;
*38th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Palm Springs Art Museum - Palm Springs, California - Juror - Jan Ernst Adelmann;
Thompson Crossing Sculpture Park - Johnstown, Colorado;
Group Exhibition, Thornwood Gallery - Houston, TX;
Mark Yale Harris and Mitzi Prince, A Muse Gallery - Columbus, OH;
*Mark Yale Harris, Hilligoss Galleries - Chicago, IL;
Two-Person Exhibition, Thornwood Gallery - Houston, TX;
*Mark Yale Harris: Monumental Sculpture Unveiling, Crossroads Contemporary - Santa Fe, NM;
*Mark Yale Harris: Private Preview and Reception, Zeldin Agency, LLC -Atlanta, Georgia;
La Posada de Santa Fe, Rock Resorts - Santa Fe, New Mexico.