Mark Mulhern is known for his figure-filled compositions that distill human experience to its essentials. Stripping away extraneous detail, he focuses on body language, allowing fleeting gestures and passing interactions to unfold into broader narratives.

In his new body of work, Early Evening, Mulhern turns his attention to light itself—its shifting presence and quiet transformations throughout the day. These paintings capture that moment when daylight softens and deepens, setting the stage for evening gatherings in summer.

Mulhern earned his BFA from the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee and his MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, later studying in Paris with the legendary printmaker S.W. Hayter.

Selected Public Collections

Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Madison, WI; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, WI; Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris, France; Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend,WI; Chazen Museum of Art, Madison, WI; McDonald’s Corporation, Oakbrook, IL;Quarles & Brady, LLP; Milwaukee, WI; Quad Graphics, Milwaukee, WI; UW Hospital & Clinics, Madison, WI, among others. 

Mark Mulhern has been represented by Tory Folliard Gallery since 1988.