Solo exhibition in the Small Space at Transmission

M. Mark Bauer, Artist Just Thinking, 2024, acrylic on canvas,  28 x 24

THE, THE

M. Mark Bauer

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June 11 - August 25, 2026 
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Artist’s Reception
Saturday, June 27th, 1 - 4 pm

48Hills Interview 
with Mary Corbin, July 2026

Artist’s Talk
Saturday, July 18th, starting at 1 pm

What the ?

What does it mean? Where DO we stand? 

Mixed messages, absurd scenarios, improbable unrealities - M. Mark Bauer wades into dynamic  narratives and the onslaught of incomprehensible untruths, pervasive and invasive, redirecting the course of events and outcome potentials at hand.  Elegantly detailed and wildly complex scenarios unfold in the eight canvases on view, presenting a world filled with hybrid creatures and colorful characters cavorting in a surreal concoction that speaks to the consequences of our collective insanity on each other and the natural world.  

On the one hand that sounds So Serious, on the other, a trip into the playful contradictions and sly humor that abounds in the work is hugely  entertaining with lots of lighthearted discoveries along the way.  Come along for the ride!

More About M. Mark Bauer

Artist's Statement:

My images are derived from multiple sources. The contrasts and activity of my paintings reflect the voyage through a human dominated world with its perplexing and unpredictable realities. I use humor and sarcasm in my art to help me cope with humankind’s folly of self-destruction.  Is it possible that human’s privileged intellect can be used to save us yet or will we continue to exploit our world to the point of no return?

Bio:

A California native, M. Mark Bauer was born in National City, California and graduated with a B.A. in Fine Art. from San Diego College followed by an MFA from UC Davis in 1972.  Drafted into the Vietnam War in the midst of his studies, Bauer returned to finish his MFA, participating in several exhibitions with  honors and teaching before founding Bauer Construction Inc., in Solana Beach, CA. In 2008 he returned to full time painting with an ensuing exhibition record including solo shows and with work routinely selected for inclusion in well respected juried exhibitions.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2024: B. Sakata Garo Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2022: Transmission Gallery, Oakland, CA
2022: Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2021: B. Sakata Garo Gallery, Sacramento, CA

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2021 Invitational Exhibition, Wild Dreams of a New Beginning, Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville, CA
2021 Exhibition: “Left Coast Annual Juried Exhibition”, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA, curated by Scott A. Shields, Associate Director & Chief Curator of The Crocker Art Museum
2020 Exhibition: “The de Young Open”, de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA
2020 Exhibition: “Four Square 2020”, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA, curated by Michael Yochum
2019 Exhibition: 79th Crocker Kingsly Exhibition", Blue Line Gallery, Roseville, CA. Juror David Pagel Art Critic for Los Angeles Times
2019 Exhibition: “The Next Big Thing 2019”, Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA, curated by Mat Gleason
2019 Exhibition: “Selections from the Crocker Kingsly Exhibition”, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, curated by Scott A. Shields, Associate Director & Chief Curator
2019 Exhibition: “Left Coast Annual Juried Exhibition”, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA, curated by Scott A. Shields, Associate Director & Chief Curator of the Crocker Art Museum
2019 Exhibition: "6th Annual Juried Art Show", Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA, Jurors Carin Adams, Curator of Art, Oakland Museum of California, and Nancy Lim, Assistant Curator of Painting and Sculpture, SFMOMA
2019 Exhibition: "48 Pillars", Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA., Curator Michael Yochum
2018 Exhibition: "Works on Paper", Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts, Loveladies, NJ, Juror Kim Conaty, Curator of Drawings and Prints, Whitney Museum, NY
2018 Exhibition: "Viridian's 29th Annual International Juried Exhibition", New York, NY, Juror Johanna Burton, Curator at The New Museum
2018 Exhibition: "Slice, A Juried Cross-section of Regional Art", Pence Gallery, Davis, CA Juror Rachel Clarke Art Professor Sacramento State University, CA
2018 Exhibition: "Painting in the 21st Century", Site:Brooklyn , Brooklyn, NY, Juror Steven Henry Madhoff, Art Critic, former executive editor of ARTnews magazine.
2018 Exhibition: "Memory and Perception", Marin MOCA , Marin, CA, honorable mention awarded, Juror Alan Bamberger, Art Consultant, Writer and Art Reviewer
2018 Exhibition: "Expo 37", B.J. Spoke Gallery, Huntington, NY, Juror Cara Manas, MOMA, NY
2018 Exhibition: "Brand 46 Annual National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper", The Brand Art Center, Glendale, CA, Juror Edward Goldman, Art Critic
2018 Exhibition: "5th Annual Juried Art Show", Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA, Juror Carin Adams, Oakland Museum, associate curator; Jenny Gheith, SFMOMA, assistant curator of painting and sculpture
2017 Exhibition: “Selections from the Crocker Kingsly Exhibition”, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, curated by Scott A. Shields, Associate Director & Chief Curator
2017 Exhibition: “New Directions", Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1st place award, Juror Ruth Erickson, curator, Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, MA
2017 Exhibition: “Flora and Fauna,” Arc Gallery, San Francisco, California, Juror Suzanne Gray of Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA
2017 Exhibition: “Eccentric Imagery”, Blue Line Gallery, Roseville, CA,
2017 Exhibition: “Crocker Kingsly Exhibition”, Blue Line Gallery, Roseville, CA,
2017 Exhibition: “Brand 45 Works On Paper, 45th Annual National Exhibition", Brand Art Center, Glendale, CA, Juror Leslie Jones, curator of Prints and Drawings, LACMA, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Exhibition: “12th National Juried Exhibition", Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA, Jurors award, Juror Mat Gleason, Coagula Art Journal
2017 2 Person Show: "Off Axis: 2017", Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2016 Exhibition: "Summer National Juried Exhibition", Marin MOCA, Marin California, 3rd place award, Juror Brian Gross of Brian Gross Fine Art in San Francisco
2016 Exhibition: “Emerging Artists of Northern California,” Marin MOCA, Marin CA; Juror Rena Bransten of Rena Bransten Gallery
2016 Exhibition: “Chaos,” Arc Gallery, San Francisco, California
2014 Exhibition: “Degenerate Art,” Nelson Gallery, UC Davis

With additional exhibitions in the '70's.