Chicago-based artist “Marksy,” also known as Sam Stoiber, made a stop to Carnelian Art Gallery this week to demonstrate his process for creating his ethereal, dreamy, and even melancholy figurative works. That’s because Marksy is one of five artists participating in our last group show of the year, Figure, which goes until Dec. 28.
“I start by making a little bowl of watercolor and flicking it onto the canvas, and I’ll use watercolor again to just sort of … map out a figure,” Marksy said, while working on a piece that’s the start of a new series for him; the painting is a depiction of a shirtless masculine character with a crown who appears to stare valiantly into the distance. “I generally have an idea of what I want to do first. I’ll sketch it usually on my iPad. But more often than not, my vision tends to stray away from my original idea and ends up becoming something a little bit different. I’m always happy with the result.
“A lot of what I am exploring in this new series are patterns in my life. This is the start to the series that I wanted to do. This painting represents the horizon … looking out into the horizon. A common pattern I have in my life is always looking out into the future and never staying in the present. A lot of what I am incorporating into this painting is that thought.”
The masculine figure in Marksy’s demonstrative painting basks in blues and purples, much like a piece displayed in Carnelian Art Gallery’s show of Marksy’s titled “It Is What It Is And What It Is Is A Cigarette.” Also a masculine representation bathed in calming violets, the figure smokes a cigarette and puffs purple smoke. The lone piece counters the rest of Marksy’s works displayed in the gallery, many of which are bald or masked figures in pastel colors posed up against a black background. One artwork titled “Angel and The Vessel” depicts a bald, faceless periwinkle figure. A waterfall pours out of where the figure’s face should be. In the figure’s hand is a representation of a winged being. An onlooker might feel a sense of catharsis while viewing the piece.
Marksy said that his artworks are explorations of his emotional state, identity, and of humorous and even “awkward” moments from his life. He uses oil pastels, watercolors, oil paints, and other media, even dolls, to achieve his distinguished style. It’s a style that has gained Marksy just under 70,000 TikTok followers alone. His TikTok account is @marksy_art, as well as his Instagram.
The Wisconsin-born artist grew up in New Berlin, or “the most conservative little town you could ever imagine.” Marksy said he felt like an outcast most of his childhood.
“I was just this weird person who’s gay and doing art,” he said. “My queer identity plays a part in (that art) but it’s not the main focal point.”
But throughout his childhood and into adulthood, Marksy became widely recognized artistic style, gaining the attention of teachers and professors, and even winning awards. Like the tide of an ocean, Marksy’s love for his art came in waves until deciding to build on his talent full-time within the last few years. For example, Marksy started going to school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for engineering. It wasn’t until two and a half years in that he changed his major to painting and drawing. He credits a professor who “really set me in my ways.”
Marksy said he’s excited to be part of Carnelian Art Gallery’s final show of the year.
“Come see the show,” he said. “Almost every painting in this show has a face. Everyone in this show is knocking it out of the park and that’s awesome. It’s a fun mix of what ‘Figure’ means … all these different types of feelings mixed in.”