Mark Burkhardt, the German-born artist whose work is reminiscent of Northern Renaissance painting, painted a TIME cover of Grace Hopper for the 100 Women of the Year in 2020. Burckhardt was invited to TIMEPieces by Edel Rodriguez.
Artist Statement
Title: Elpis
On first glance, Marc Burckhardt’s paintings appear to have been handed down through generations, their aged appearance and rustic aesthetic building on the themes and genres of the Northern Renaissance. His imagery is rich with symbolism, which draws its potency from a lexicon of classic symbology, whose meaning and strength have developed over centuries. While Burckhardt’s technique and visual aesthetic are rooted in tradition, the subject matter and themes he explores are very much of the 21st century, and this is the key ingredient which lends his images much of their power. By way of the familiarity of a historic aesthetic, he presents current events, beliefs, and questions through a wider historical lens and with a distinct timelessness; all the while encouraging us to contemplate our contemporary world with a fresh perspective. In approaching the theme of this initiative, Burckhardt says, “Any vision of the future has to be built on an awareness of our past—both our successes and our failures—and requires the effort of those with the means to create change as well as those who will inherit that responsibility.”
About the Artist
Marc Burckhardt’s paintings have been commissioned by Gucci, Porsche, Amazon, Rolling Stone, the New York Times, and Random House, among others. His gallery work includes exhibitions at Art Basel (Switzerland & Miami), Affenfaust Galerie (Hamburg), Copro Nason (LA), Mindy Solomon (FL), and the Blank Space (NY). His work has won many awards, including Gold & Silver Medals from the Society of Illustrators and Cannes Lion, as well as a Grammy for Best Limited Edition Box Set Packaging, and his paintings are in numerous private collections. A former instructor at the School of Visual Arts in NYC and Texas State University, he was named Texas State Artist by the Texas Legislature and the Commission on the Arts, and is a recipient of the prestigious Hamilton King Award.
@marc_burckhardt | @marcburckhardt | www.marcburckhardt.com
View on OpenSea here.
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