Contemporary New York City-based artist Mark Beard has long demonstrated command in a variety of mediums — he works in oil paint, bronze, ceramics and more. Beard is known mainly for his portraits and figurative paintings, but he is prolific in figurative drawing and nude photography as well.
Beard was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1986, he began working as a set designer, and for the next decade, he created more than 20 sets in New York City, London, Frankfurt, Vienna and Cologne. As a painter and printmaker, Beard didn’t wish to confine himself to a rigid style and instead sought to explore Impressionism, Art Nouveau and other movements in a range of mediums. In order to freely move from one style to the next, Beard created several different personas, assigning a specific biography to each one.
Beard's most prominent artistic alter ego is Bruce Sargeant, whom the artist has positioned in exhibitions as an early 20th-century painter. Beard's work as Sargeant is a detailed study of the male physique. The paintings often feature sculpted athletic men engaged in physical activities like wrestling and rowing. The work is steeped in homoeroticism, and the artist’s name itself is a reference to painter John Singer Sargent — while he’s best known for his Edwardian-era portraits, John Singer Sargent also created murals and drawings of male nudes that were similarly reflective of a homoerotic sensibility.
Beard is also an accomplished landscape painter. His great-grandfather, George Beard, was a regional painter and photographer of the Rocky Mountains. Mark spent summers at his grandfather's 19th-century log cabin retreat as a child. These formative experiences are reflected in his own stunning landscape paintings.
Beard's artwork is held in many high-profile museum collections, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Today, Beard resides in the Manhattan loft that he purchased in 1994 with his partner, James Manfred. It serves as both his home and his studio. The space is filled with his oil paintings, drawings and sculptures.
On 1stDibs, find Mark Beard paintings, drawings, photography and more.
Self Portrait
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and numbered (4/6) in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is o...
Photogravure
Red Drape
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed and inscribed (AP 1/3) in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offered by Cl...
Photogravure
John Kelly (I'm Lost to the World)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
This unique hand-painted photograph by Mark Beard is offered by CLAMP in New York City.
Paint, Silver Gelatin
Robert Mapplethorpe
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offered by CLAMP, located in New York City. Mark Beard writes: “I asked Robert Mapplethorpe to take me to the ‘Mine Shaft,’ a famous S&M club. He agreed but told me it was finished and boring. We made Christmas trees together for New York Magazine. He asked to make nude...
Photogravure
![[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Man in Suspenders Amidst the Cattails](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/mark-beard-photography-bruce-sargeant-1898-1938-man-in-suspenders-amidst-the-cattails-for-sale/a_9323/a_50422621569347500883/Beard_Sargeant_Man_in_Suspenders_Amidst_the_Cattails_1stdibs_master.jpg?width=240)
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Man in Suspenders Amidst the Cattails
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas Signed in red, u.l. $6500.00 + $300.00 framing This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Bruce Sargeant is a mythic figure in the modern art mo...
Canvas, Oil
$2,177
H 15.75 in W 23.63 in
Between two golden times Françoise Benomar Contemporary African photography nude
By Françoise Benomar
Located in Paris, FR
Photography printed on fine art paper Hand-signed and numbered 1/5 on the back by the artist
Photographic Paper
Spring Glamour
By Markus Klinko
Located in Austin, TX
From a stunning collection of contemporary nudes from celebrated photographer, Markus Klinko, featuring amongst others, Dita Von Teese, Stoya and Aubrey O’Day This print is availabl...
C Print
Bea with a whip at The Other Side
By Nan Goldin
Located in New York, NY
Nan Goldin Bea with a whip at The Other Side 1973 Gelatin silver print 14 x 11 inches; 36 x 28 cm Edition of 100 Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in graphite (lower right verso) ...
Silver Gelatin
Ode to Botticelli's Venus & Mars
By E2 - Kleinveld & Julien
Located in New Orleans, LA
6.75 x 16 inches - Edition 3 of 7 with 2 APs STATEMENT: e2, a collaboration between New Orleans artists Elizabeth Kleinveld and Epaul Julien, re-imagines iconic images from the hist...
Archival Pigment
Ode to Botticelli's Venus & Mars
By E2 - Kleinveld & Julien
Located in New Orleans, LA
Edition 1 of 3, 2 APs Large size: 15.25 x 36 inches STATEMENT: e2, a collaboration between New Orleans artists Elizabeth Kleinveld and Epaul Julien, re-imagines iconic images from t...
Archival Pigment
Slim Aarons Palm Beach Society (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jim Kimberly and his wife (far left) and friends with his white sports car and white boats moored on Lake Worth. A Palm Beach socialite, Kimberly acts as Honorary Consul of Jordan. A...
Lambda
The Glass Wall #12, Santa Fe, NM, 2010
By Brad Wilson
Located in Sante Fe, NM
The Glass Wall is an earlier series for Santa Fe photographer Brad Wilson, who is well known for his series Affinity – a collection of strikingly detailed studio animal portraits. ...
Archival Pigment
$4,200
H 30 in W 40 in
Slim Aarons 'George Hamilton with Horse on Capri' (Slim Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
April 1966: Actor George Hamilton with a horse on the island of Capri Slim Aarons George Hamilton with Horse on Capri Chromogenic Lambda Print Slim Aarons Estate Edition Estate st...
Lambda
Alina • # 4 of 6 • 59 cm x 42 cm
By Angelika Buettner
Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Alina • 2009 • Edition of 18 prints in 3 different sizes. All prints are numbered and signed. Printed on Hahnemühle Archival Paper. Three different sizes are available, the series ...
Archival Pigment, Archival Paper, Digital Pigment
$5,500
H 39.5 in W 39.5 in
LILIYA II Digital Print on Aluminum, Aesthetic Movement, 2010+
By Jacques Beneich
Located in Miami, FL
In this picture the artist approaches the themes of women, nudity, sensuality using feathers, gold and a frame hold by a sexy model: A wink to musical comedies, theaters, illusion and show girls under a benevolent Buddha. The artwork of Jacques Beneich is an ever renewed exploration of his passion for fashion photography, black and white movies, and music, re-visited with an explosion of colors as a tribute to life. While working as a fashion photographer with the most well known magazines and companies, Jacques Beneich started working as a portraitist. In 1989 he signed one of the most famous series of portraits of some of the greatest jazz and blues musicians...
Aluminum
Japan – Samurai - Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph
Located in Middletown, NY
Yokohama, Japan: c 1890. Hand-tinted albumen print, 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 inches (258 x 198 mm), numbered B 1161 and captioned in negative at lower right; very light cockling, brightly col...
Watercolor, Photographic Paper
$400
H 8.08 in W 10.52 in
Japan – Three dancing geisha apprentices – Hand-colored Meiji Period photograph
Located in Middletown, NY
Yokohama, Japan: c 1880. Hand-tinted albumen print, 8 1/8 x 10 1/2 inches (205 x 267 mm), numbered 1625 and captioned "Dancing" in negative at lower right; pencil inscription in Jap...
Watercolor, Photographic Paper
Self Portrait
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Self Portrait 2001 Signed and dated in pencil, recto Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper (Unique) 22 x 15 inches, sheet 9 x 6.5 inches, image This work is offered by ClampArt in...
Polaroid
John Kelly
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 11 x 7.5 inches, sheet size This artwork is offered by ClampArt, ...
Photogravure
Self Portrait at 45
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed (AP) in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is o...
Photogravure
Self Portrait
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and numbered (2/6) in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is o...
Photogravure
Marc (with Cigarette)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed "Unique" in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork ...
Photogravure
Untitled (Man with Bouquet of Lilies)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, dated, and inscribed "Unique AP" in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is of...
Photogravure
Untitled (Man Seated on Chair)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, dated, and numbered (2/6) in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offered b...
Photogravure
Sold
H 22 in W 15 in
Untitled 26 (Polaroid Transfer of Young Nude Male on Rives BFK) by Mark Beard
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Untitled 26 (Polaroid Transfer of Young Nude Male on Rives BFK) by Mark Beard 10 x 8 inch image size 22 x 15 inch paper size signed & dated lower right Unique Polaroid Transfer on Ri...
Archival Paper, Polaroid
Untitled (Male Nude Leaning on Chair)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offere...
Photogravure
Dirk
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and inscribed in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offere...
Photogravure
Untitled (Andy Warhol)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Mark Beard writes: “Andy Warhol was everywhere. At one of the similar yet different events at ‘Area Club...
Photogravure
Robert Mapplethorpe
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. Mark Beard writes: “I asked Robert Mapplethorpe to take me to the ‘Mine Shaft,’ a famous S&M club. He agreed but told me it was finished and boring. We made Christmas trees together for New York Magazine. He asked to make nude...
Photogravure