Mark Shasha is an award-winning American artist. He is also an award-winning author, illustrator and educator, an occasional actor and singer. His paintings, drawings and prints are found in public and private collections around the world and have appeared in museums and galleries for more than three decades. His children’s books appear regularly on bestseller lists and have been read by millions worldwide.

Sea of dreams

 

1961-1991
EARLY YEARS

Mark grew up by the sea in Connecticut. A love of painting, drawing and telling stories led him to the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence where art instructors included Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express) the painter Trent Burleson and Bauhaus colorist Seymour Sillman.

After graduation from RISD in 1983, Shasha found work as an illustrator at newspapers and magazines including The Boston Globe, The Phoenix, Boston Magazine and other publications.

Shasha’s first book, Night of the Moonjellies (Simon&Schuster, 1992) was inspired by childhood memories of working at his grandmother’s hot dog stand in the early 1970s. It was greeted as “a classic” by Smithsonian Magazine, received a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and was praised by Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Sesame Street and many others. Other books include The Hall of Beasts (Simon&Schuster, 1995), a quiet story about the magic of art.


Lands End


1992 – 1999

THE TRAVELING AUTHOR

Shasha was soon invited to schools across the country to introduce children to writing and illustrating. He developed original and wide-ranging sessions full of music, art history, math, and ideas about the creative process. He traveled from Concord, New Hampshire to Kansas City, Missouri in his trademark yellow suit. By the end of the 1990’s more than 150,000 children in 220 schools and libraries had heard Shasha’s unique presentations.

In 1999 The Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut awarded Shasha the Shining Star Award for his“Outstanding contribution to the education of young people.” Previous recipients include the undersea explorer Robert Ballard who found Titanic.


2000 – 2015

A FULL-TIME ARTIST

Though he loved working with children Shasha felt his work in publishing had led him too far from making art. Shasha returned to full-time to oil painting and to his studies of landscape realism and impressionism. Today he is recognized as one of New England’s definitive local artists. His numerous awards include the Guild of Boston Artists Silver Medal and Rockport’s Antonio Cirino Award. 

Mark Shasha’s work has been seen in more than 70 exhibitions in museums and galleries nationwide including the venerable Guild of Boston Artists, Lyman Allyn Museum of Art, Martime Museum of New London, Storyopolis Hollywood, The Society of Illustrators in New York.
His work has shared space with artists as diverse as Christo, Jeff Koons and Emile Gruppe.

A 2012 retrospective “The Art of Mark Shasha: Moonjellies and Daydreams” at The Maritime Museum of New London featured his book illustrations, sketchbooks and drawings from his early years.

MARK TODAY

Mark Shasha is one of New England’s leading artists.* He is an elected member of The Guild of Boston Artists, The Copley Society and the Rockport Art Association. He is represented by Bonnie Crane Gallery, Willoughby Fine Art Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard and a few other select galleries.

Meanwhile, his books still appear occasionally on several bestseller lists. “Night of the Moonjellies,” a Smithsonian Notable Book, is considered by many to be a classic of children’s literature and is celebrated as “one of the best books ever published for children” in some corners.**

When he is not painting Shasha is likely to be acting or singing on a stage. He has had several key roles in notable Boston-area productions including Willy Wonka (playing “Willy Wonka”), Fiddler on the Roof , Peter Pan, Blood Brothers and others. He won praise playing ‘Cogsworth’ in an award-winning stage production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and again for a performance as Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Shasha has also appeared on television, film and video and has been the subject of National Public Radio programs over the years.*** He lives on the North Shore of Boston.

*Marblehead Reporter, Salem News
**Five in a Row
***Faith Middleton Show – Mark Shasha and the Moonjellies, 2005

 

Exibitions & Events:

Ongoing Group Exhibition
Guild of Boston Artists
New Members Exhibition
162 Newbury Street, Boston, MA

Thursday, June 2
Noon – 5pm
“I Painted with the Guild”
Casual painting lessons offered for free
in Boston’s Public Garden with other Guild members.
Limited supplies provided.
Call 617 536-7660 for details.

June 2017:
“Mark Shasha Solo Exhibition”
The Marblehead Art Association
Hooper Mansion, Marblehead, MA

 

Mark Shasha Website

 
Mark Shasha Instagram
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