For Mark Bradley-Shoup, an “Aha! moment” and his acknowledged talent have created a successful career for this visual artist whose sure commitment to the arts and his environmental consciousness are evident in his work.
Mark overheard his college counselor questioning another student about dedication to the arts and the difficult work that life would require. Although the questions were asked of another student, it was in that moment he decided to make exactly that kind of commitment. The decision led to his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
According to Mark, UTC has a “phenomenal program” for preparing artists. His study continued at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in 2004.
In his role as adjunct professor at both UTC and Chattanooga State, Mark’s love of college continues. He teaches a variety of classes, including drawing, painting, color theory and art history. “Teaching at the college level is what I feel passionate about,” he says. “It’s challenging and stimulates your own work.”
As a visual artist, Mark works in oils. He describes his paintings as mostly representational, although he creates abstracts, as well. Despite the simple structures that Mark so beautifully documents, the philosophy behind his paintings is thought-provoking and insightful.
“The intention of my work is to address the theme of expansion and recession, consumption and growth, and in short, the elegance of brutality,” he explains. “My work is derived from my observation and interaction with the natural and constructed landscape and how we respond to our sense of place in the world. I am intrigued by how we inhabit and utilize space.”
A look at two of his recent exhibits reveals his concern for the environment that, while not overt, is “intended to make people aware of and awake in their natural surroundings,” he explains. To that end, his depictions of city dumpsters, empty buildings and portable toilets speak to land use and consumerism. “They are icons of consumption,” Mark contends.
“My work responds to the built form, partly for its architectural purpose, but quite often I am drawn to such objects for the dialogue that these forms have with one another and with the space in which they inhabit,” he says. “At times these conversations can be poetic, but other times these structures carry out very absurd and awkward functions that are often overlooked due to their monotonous role in our culture. These paintings are a response to both the natural and built landscape and how we inhabit, interact and encounter space and form.”
The titles to Mark’s works are simply stated, but often include the names of designer paint colors used in homes today; for example, Strawberry Gray Dumpster in Retro Red and FEMA Trailer in Honey Tea. The titles, along with the unexpected attention to ordinary objects, create a bit of wry humor in an otherwise stark perspective.
Mark has received many honors for his work. In 2007, he received an individual artist fellowship from the Tennessee Arts Commission. He also received the MFA Graduate Award top prize from the University of North Carolina in 2004.
Mark has exhibited as the solo artist at the Soren Christensen Gallery in New Orleans, as well as the Tanner Hill Gallery in Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Technical College and Cleveland State Community College. In addition, his work has appeared in the prestigious journal New American Paintings.
Along with his work as a college professor, Mark is the director of programs for the Association for Visual Arts (AVA), a local arts organization that supports the arts and artists, provides opportunities for the school system and galleries, and offers classes to artists and the general public.
“Chattanooga has much to be proud of,” Mark says. “There’s a need to communicate the value of the arts. If all art in Chattanooga disappeared, I believe people would be amazed at how much they would miss.”
When reflecting on Mark’s description and purpose of his work: “Intended to make people aware of and awake in their natural surroundings,” the value of his art seems very clear.