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Writer's pictureJennifer Gillia Cutshall

Another Look at The Marks We Make...

10th Annual Living Mark Artists share more insight about their expansive nature and their particular "mark" on a substrate or material...


"I believe that the act of making marks on a surface is a fundamental part of human expression and communication. The idea of exploring the relationship between marks and life itself intrigued me, as I have always seen art as a reflection of our experiences and existence. This aligns with my own artistic style as I am often drawn to dynamic and fluid forms of expression, whether it's through abstract painting or gestural drawing. Through the act of creating, we are a leavingmark on the world."

Zara Muradyan



Harley Talkington


Marking Our Lives


We arrive here,

each on our own trajectory.

Absorbing, reflecting, warmed by light.

Even while standing still,

we cast a fluid shadow

across our shared space

before we are onto somewhere else.

We ready ourselves

marking our lives in time with tracks,

in a place next to each other.


Harley Talkington








Kara Greenwell

"What goes on beneath the serene surface we present to the world? Which struggles churn our insides? What longings stir our hearts? Inspired by the paintings of Cy Twombly, this body of work explores my own gestural vocabulary. One that interprets the impossible mix of optimism and despair defining femininity today."

Kara Greenwell


Patricia Giraud

"Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”

Susan Sontag

(quote shared by Living Mark artist Patricia Giraud)



Fay Golson

“I could not live in any of the worlds offered to me — the world of my parents, the world of war, the world of politics. I had to create a world of my own, like a climate, a country, an atmosphere in which I could breathe, reign, and recreate myself when destroyed by living. That, I believe, is the reason for every work of art.”

~Anaïs Nin

Quote shared by Living Mark Artist Fay Golson


Susan Bennerstrom

“I am known primarily for my oil paintings about light within architectural spaces. When I started making abstract drawings a new world opened up to me. Moving back and forth between painting and drawing allows me to dig deeper into what artmaking is about for me and why it is essential in my life.”

Susan Bennerstrom


Christa Nye

"Following my need to create, I have worked as an artist for most of my life. Over time, my work has moved more and more towards abstraction. Currently, I am using mixed media and collage techniques to create my images. The images are my way of making my personal mark, like a signature that is uniquely my own. I leave these “marks” behind are a reminder of where I have been and what I have accumulated over the years. I accumulate new imagery as I move through my world in time and space. I see abstractions and my mind takes me to unexplored worlds. Whether you call it fantasy, make-believe, or altered perceptions, my paintings are a stream of consciousness that take me away from the mundane. I travel through the images, in wonder and astonishment of what lies ahead."

Christa Nye


Josef-Peter Römer

"I was drawn to this Living mark theme because I am drawn to show how I perceive my relationship with life and it's outcomes through my art, encompassing

the Past, Present, and Future that actually happen simultaneously."

Josef-Peter Römer


Vanessa Brici

"Although the basis of all my art projects is photography, I enjoy

working by physically altering each image. Creating marks is one of the

main aspects of my practice. For me, it's essential to embrace

uncertainty and chance, thereby producing artworks that may originate

from the same initial state, such as the same photo, but will always be

unique and distinct from each other. This approach reflects the way I

perceive the world; each moment is unique and leaves an unrepeatable

mark on us."

Vanessa Brici


To Preview all 60 selected works from this powerful exhibition, click below:


Click the button below to see all works in scale in Verum's Virtual Gallery:

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