Skip to main contentBiographyMark Kelso
Born 1967 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Lives in Bargersville, Indiana
Mark exhibited a wide variety of interests in his formative years, including intensive study in dance, voice, visual arts, martial arts, and perhaps surprisingly, competitive baton twirling. But from this diverse background, Mark chose the visual arts for his career. He majored in painting at John Herron School of Art, in Indianapolis, IN, and began focusing on social, philosophical, and environmentally oriented subject matter in his senior year. This nature/civilization content in his paintings was translated to wildlife and landscape subject matter the following year, and has remained his primary focus over the years.
Mark’s art has been exhibited and collected globally. His work has hung in over 100 museums around the world, including such places as the National Geographic Society, Taiwan’s National Museum of Natural History, the London Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. Mark has been a member of the International Society of Animal Artists and Artists for Conservation organizations, and his work has been featured in various magazines such as Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, and Art of the West. He currently works out of his studio near Indianapolis, IN, and continues to travel extensively, gathering experiences in the wild from which to draw inspiration.
Notable Awards and Achievements:
2021 Buffalo Bill Center for the West, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, Spirit Award
2021 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, People’s Choice Award, Artist’s Choice Award, Herney Farney Painting Award
2020 Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, People’s Choice Award
2020 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award
2019 Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, People’s Choice Award
2018 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Artists’ Choice Award
2018 Buffalo Bill Center for the West, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Best of Show
2013 Waterfowl Festival, Artist’s Choice Award
2012 Susan Kathleen Black Foundation, Rose Award
2009 Natureworks, Best of Show 2D
2006 Carmel International Arts Festival, Best of Show
2004 Carmel International Arts Festival, Best of Show
2000 Taipei National Museum of Natural History, Beauty of Formosa Featured Artist
1999 Indianapolis Zoo Arts Festival, Best of Show 2D
1997 Northern Wildlife Art Expo, Judges Award of Excellence
Memberships:
Society of Animal Artists
Artists for Conservation
Gallery Representation:
Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming
Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, South Carolina
Plainsmen Gallery, Dunedin, Florida
Entered by Elias Garza Garcia, Curatorial Assistant, 3/16/2023
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for Mark Kelso
Mark Kelso
American, born 1967
Born 1967 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Lives in Bargersville, Indiana
Mark exhibited a wide variety of interests in his formative years, including intensive study in dance, voice, visual arts, martial arts, and perhaps surprisingly, competitive baton twirling. But from this diverse background, Mark chose the visual arts for his career. He majored in painting at John Herron School of Art, in Indianapolis, IN, and began focusing on social, philosophical, and environmentally oriented subject matter in his senior year. This nature/civilization content in his paintings was translated to wildlife and landscape subject matter the following year, and has remained his primary focus over the years.
Mark’s art has been exhibited and collected globally. His work has hung in over 100 museums around the world, including such places as the National Geographic Society, Taiwan’s National Museum of Natural History, the London Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. Mark has been a member of the International Society of Animal Artists and Artists for Conservation organizations, and his work has been featured in various magazines such as Fine Art Connoisseur, Western Art Collector, Southwest Art, and Art of the West. He currently works out of his studio near Indianapolis, IN, and continues to travel extensively, gathering experiences in the wild from which to draw inspiration.
Notable Awards and Achievements:
2021 Buffalo Bill Center for the West, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, Spirit Award
2021 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, People’s Choice Award, Artist’s Choice Award, Herney Farney Painting Award
2020 Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, People’s Choice Award
2020 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award
2019 Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, People’s Choice Award
2018 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Artists’ Choice Award
2018 Buffalo Bill Center for the West, Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine Best of Show
2013 Waterfowl Festival, Artist’s Choice Award
2012 Susan Kathleen Black Foundation, Rose Award
2009 Natureworks, Best of Show 2D
2006 Carmel International Arts Festival, Best of Show
2004 Carmel International Arts Festival, Best of Show
2000 Taipei National Museum of Natural History, Beauty of Formosa Featured Artist
1999 Indianapolis Zoo Arts Festival, Best of Show 2D
1997 Northern Wildlife Art Expo, Judges Award of Excellence
Memberships:
Society of Animal Artists
Artists for Conservation
Gallery Representation:
Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming
Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, South Carolina
Plainsmen Gallery, Dunedin, Florida
Entered by Elias Garza Garcia, Curatorial Assistant, 3/16/2023
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