Mark Shasha is an award-winning artist, author, educator and a leading Plein Air painter in America today. His work has appeared in museums, galleries and publications for almost 40 years and can be found in public and private collections around the world. 

Mark is a practitioner of Contemporary Realism. He is best known for his coastal paintings of New England and he has done notable work around the country in a variety of genres. “I brake for beauty” is his bumper sticker. 

His paintings usually begin with something personal that captures his eye; it may be as simple as a reflected light on a cliff or as complex as an urban vista. He applies traditional picture making techniques of working from life “en Plein Air” rather than photographs to achieve natural direct light and color. He combines this with classical methods of careful drawing, strong composition and atmospheric perspective. 

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, he is signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and is an elected artist member of The Salmagundi Club, The Guild of Boston Artists, The Copley Society, Rockport Art Association & Museum and other venerable art institutions. 

His paintings consistently earn national recognition and awards, with recent highlights being the Museum Purchase Award in San Angelo, Texas, Plein Air Easton Artist’s Choice Award, Oil Painters of America Award of Excellence, and the Alden Bryan Memorial Award for Excellence in Landscape Painting (awarded to Shasha twice in one year). 

Mark is included in prominent art events throughout the country including Forgotten Coast en Plein Air, Plein Air Easton, Cape Ann Plein Air, En Plein Air Texas and the Laguna Plein Air Invitational. He’s slso an artist faculty presenter at national events, including 2022’s ”Plein Air Live” virtual convention.