In the Galleries: Mark Beard

Mark Beard is an artist of elegant work with an ever-present edge of sexuality. A casual perusal reveals a depth of knowledge of art and art history. His referencing of styles from previous decades and art movements has a wry, playful feel. Beard's playfulness grew over the years and he began to invent alternative art personalities — the best known of them was Bruce Sargeant, a contemporary of John Singer Sargent, E.M. Forster, and Rupert Brooke. His hoax-y alter-personas became successful in their own right, and many were duped, including this writer.

Evidence of the trickster peeks out from this collection of work from 1978 through 2008 of influential people in the New York culture scene: His Warhol homage, the formal portrait of Charles Ludlam and Everett Quinton for the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, and the explicit and charming doodle of porn star Aiden Shaw with blatant sexual proclamations.

Mark Beard is an artist of elegant work with an ever-present edge of sexuality. A casual perusal reveals a depth of knowledge of art and art history. His referencing of styles from previous decades and art movements has a wry, playful feel. Beard's playfulness grew over the years and he began to invent alternative art personalities — the best known of them was Bruce Sargeant, a contemporary of John Singer Sargent, E.M. Forster, and Rupert Brooke. His hoax-y alter-personas became successful in their own right, and many were duped, including this writer.

Evidence of the trickster peeks out from this collection of work from 1978 through 2008 of influential people in the New York culture scene: His Warhol homage, the formal portrait of Charles Ludlam and Everett Quinton for the Ridiculous Theatrical Company, and the explicit and charming doodle of porn star Aiden Shaw with blatant sexual proclamations.

Beard is also a renown set designer and his artwork is included in many museums internationally. This work brings back memories of a more experimental and dangerous time in the New York art scene. The exhibit at the Life Gallery in New York City continues through October 24, with an artist reception on October 15.