A New York-based freelance painter, Mark Garro has assembled an impressive body of work. Awarded a full scholarship, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Syracuse University in 1984. Garro worked in a major New York City gallery while building his portfolio. Over the next 20 years he illustrated book covers for many well known series, including Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark and RL Stine’s Ghosts of Fear Street, one of the most successful collections in Publishing history.

After a long career as an illustrator, completing more than 100 covers, Garro has now logged over 20 years as a gallery artist. Exhibited in seven countries, his paintings hold places of prominence in collections internationally. His eighth solo show Santa Monica’s Pop-Surreal powerhouse, Copro Gallery, reflected his firm position as a visionary pacesetter for the genre. His growing collector base enthusiastically anticipates his next meticulously executed work.

About the Artist

A miniaturist who likes to work big, Garro struggles with this clash of sensibilities to be as prolific as possible. His work often features classically beautiful figures acting as cosmological cogs working within the complex mechanisms of the Universe. Dynamic motion of familiar shapes morphing and implying other familiar shapes are evident - creating, destroying and re-creating once again in two dimensions, but implying four.

Enjoy the trip.

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Illustration 1984 (full scholarship)
    Syracuse University, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse, NY

  • APRIL 2007: Amazing Visions Exhibition of Surrealist Painters | Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle WA

    1995 - 2004 FINALIST: Annual RSVP Theme Show | Society of Illustrators Gallery

    SUMMER 2003: Retrospective Show | Opening of Artist’s New Studio

    SUMMER 2002: One-Man Show | Carol Conditt Gallery, White Plains NY

    SUMMER 2001: One-Man Show All that Jazz | Marmara Gallery, Manhattan NY

    ANNUAL 36 & 37: Society of Illustrators

    ANNUAL 36 & 39: Communication Art

    Blue Ribbons/Honorable Mentions – Juried Shows | Art Society of Old Greenwich, CT

    ANNUAL 34: Society of Illustrators | Los Angeles

    AUTUMN 1991 & 1993: One-Man Show | VDC Gallery, SOHO Manhattan NY

    I.A.C. Award of Excellence for Painting

    Prints ’87 Regional Design Annual

    1987: Desi Award

    ANNUAL 8: New York Type Director’s Club

    5th Annual Amos Eno Juried Small Works Show | SOHO Manhattan NY

    13th Annual Juried Small Works Show | New York University

    Exhibition at Atelier Ettinger | SOHO, Manhattan NY

    Honorable Mention – Waveny House Exhibit | New Canaan CT

  • Addison-Wesley
    Avon Cosmetics
    Avon Publications
    Ballantine Books
    Berkley Publishing
    Bill Publications
    Caldwell Davis
    Cosmopolis Crowley and Daly
    Cow Parade 2000
    Dancer Fitzgerald Sample
    Stamford Downtown Special Services
    Star, Inc. - Norwalk, CT
    General Foods Corporate
    Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
    Harper Collins
    Little Brown
    Nickelodeon
    Official Publications
    Playboy Jazz Festival Magazine
    Pocket Books
    R.A. Cooney Design
    Random House
    Readers Digest
    Remco Toys
    Saatchi and Saatchi
    Scholastic Books
    Tor Books
    Warner Records
    Young & Rubicam