Featured Artist Mark Lembo

Artist Mark Lembo presents a portfolio of colorful and complex mixed media works. See more of his collection by visiting his website.

 

 

Since I was a featured artist in 2023, my work has evolved to slightly larger montages and works emphasizing mark-making, called the Impressions series. Works from these two collections have appeared in a number of local exhibits. In March 2025, I was thrilled to be selected to participate as a Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Emerging Artist. It was a true highlight of my career!

 

 

The new, non-representational abstract Impressions series has explored mark-making and the boundaries (or is it the intersection?) of relief printing and stamping. Using a variety of materials, tools, shapes and media, the works evolve more organically. Among the media used are acrylic inks, India ink, markers and watercolors. Lately, I have been incorporating metallic watercolor and pearlescent ink in my work.

 

 

Originally, works were done on surfaces that included traditional watercolor paper and Yupo synthetic paper, in 12″ x 14″ or 12″ x 15″ sizes, then framed. That style grew to include works on 24″ x 36″ YUPO™ of Graphix Duri-Bright ™ synthetic papers mounted on cradled panels. In 2026, the series shifted to gessoed panels with the image developed directly on the treated panel.

 

 

As newer works, members of the Impressions series have been shared at a solo exhibit at the Rialto Theatre in Tampa, at Five Deuces Galleria in St. Petersburg, PAVA exhibits, Tampa Regional Artists and Art Crawl Lakeland, since the series’ inception in 2023.

 

 

Following a similar arc, the mixed media montages have grown in size from the original works done in traditional 11″ x 14″ and 16″ x 20″ sizes to 24″ x 36″ and 24″ x 48″ cradled panels.  This style has occasionally branched in to abstract landscapes. There has even been some commissioned work, as well, where specific elements, like text, were incorporated.

 

 

Mixed media montages also have been on at display local exhibits throughout southwest Florida, including Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa, 53^rd Annual Fine Arts Exhibit at the Melvin Gallery in Lakeland, and Alliance for the Arts’ “I Ink, Therefore I Am” in Fort Myers, and the Bay Area Art Show 18 in Tampa.

 

 

As non-representational abstract works, I try to focus on creating a treat for the eyes. Attention is paid to the balance of colors and shapes, some hint, or rhythm, of line and a mix of textures inherent with the use of paper, Yupo and canvas as the ground for ink, acrylic, marker, metallics and watercolor in the field. If done as planned, there should be some order in the chaos!

 

Mark Lembo invites you to follow on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Click below to sign up for our twice-monthly email. You’ll get all this plus opportunities and special offers that you can’t get anywhere else!