Biography

Mark E. Flowers earned his BFA in Studio Arts from The University of South Carolina in 1977 and his MFA in Painting from Western Michigan University in1979. Following his academic career, he has exhibited his work throughout the United States and in Europe, and in the Fall of 2003, exhibited his sixth one-person show with Hodges/Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. His relationship with that gallery now spans more then 21 years. Over his career, he has had 20 one person exhibitions of his work. Mark's work can be found in 25 public and over 275 private collections. Throughout his career he has won numerous awards for his art in both regional and national competitions. Most recently he was named one of the 100 Art Alumni for the Centennial Celebration at Western Michigan University.

His art teaching career parallels his art making. He has taught art at the secondary and postsecondary levels for more than 27 years. While he has been a teacher of art, he has also chaired two fine arts departments and one painting department. His most recent teaching award is the Allen Zearn Distinguished Teaching Award at Mercersburg Academy where he has taught art for the last 17 years.

While pursuing dual careers, he has served as a town councilman, volunteer firefighter, Little League baseball coach and president of a community recreational board. Along with his artist/wife, Kristy Higby, they have raised two sons, Carson and Morgan, who are now off learning to be artists themselves.

Mark has spent his adult life pursuing his art, teaching what he knows, and serving his community well. He maintains a strong exhibition record and is now more committed to making art than ever before. He and Kristy recently purchased a hand-made log cabin just north of Asheville, NC in the community of Alexander. They are now commuting between their teaching jobs in Pennsylvania and their new home in Asheville.