Mark Wardel AKA TradeMark is a contemporary artist who is well established in painting and fine art, applies his technique to producing artwork/imagery for high profile clients in the entertainment, music and club industries.
Mark’s instantly recognisable work draws on influences from traditional portraiture to post punk graphics, New York street art of the `70s & `80s, Soviet-era propaganda posters, pop art and high-fashion imagery that explores issues of identity, portraiture and the self-created personae prevalent within the entertainment, club and urban sub-cultures. Mark has also featured on magazine and record covers as well as prestigious club campaigns worldwide.
Clients and Collectors include: David Bowie / Isolar New York City, Defected Records, V&A Museum, Daphne Guinness London, Soho House, Ministry Of Sound, Marc Almond, Kylie Minogue, Absolut Vodka and Boy George.
Mark Wardel lives and works in London.
- 2021 `ReGeneration` Our Wonderful Culture, Covent Garden, London (group)
- 2016 `Wild Mutation` The Gallery, Stanhope Street, Liverpool (solo)
- 2017, `Tales From The City` Museum Of Liverpool (group)
- 2017, `Creative Rage` The Gallery, Stanhope Street, Liverpool (group)
- 2013 ‘This Way Out’ (collaboration with Boy George) at Camp & Furnace Liverpool
- 2013 ‘David Bowie Is’ V&A Museum London (group)
- 2010 ‘Act Art’ Islington Metal Works London (group)
- 2009 Urban Uprising Gallery Sydney Australia (solo)
- 2008 ‘Fellow Travellers’ Contemporary Urban Centre Liverpool (group)
- 2007 ‘Fellow Travellers’ Salford Museum and Art Gallery Manchester (group)
- 2007 ‘Kylie’ V&A Museum London (group)
- 2006 ‘Fly’ Candid Gallery London (solo)
- 2003 ‘The TradeMark Show’ Candid Gallery London (solo)
- 2001 Disco Decor (installation) Hollywood Palace Los Angeles California (solo)
- 2001 ‘Remix’ Stables Yard Gallery London (solo)
- 1999 ‘Underground Icon’ Departure Lounge London (solo)
Selected collections
- 2015 David Bowie/Isolar New York City USA
- 2015 private collection Los Angeles California USA
- 2015 private collection Los Angeles USA
- 2015 private collection France
- 2015 private collection Sydney Australia
- 2014 private collection Paris France
- 2014 private collection San Francisco USA
- 2014 private collection Palm Springs USA
- 2013 Boy George London
- 2010 Kanye West Los Angeles California USA
- Selected clients and commissions
- David Bowie/Isolar Archive New York City
- Defected Records London
- Soho House London
- Boy George (Legends 10 management)
- Absolut Vodka
- Random House Books
- Kylie Minogue
Selected publications
- 2017 `Earthbound – David Bowie and The man Who Fell To Earth`, Susan Compo Jawbone Press
- 2015 ‘The Hot List’, artist Mark Wardel/Grey Gardens Harpers Bazaar (online) 10/9/15
- 2015 ‘What to see’ Vanity Fair (online) 11/9/15
- 2015 ‘Mark Wardel, the art of Glitterbox’ Defected Records blog 4/6/15
- 2015 ‘David Bowie snaps up collection of masks by Mark Wardel’ Daily Mail 4/3/15
- 2014 ‘Mark Wardel’s Bowie mask’ Nick knight/Show Studio blog 18/8/14
- 2013 ‘Lifting the mask’ Boy George and Mark Wardel talk. Liverpool Echo 25/10/13
- 2013 ‘Mark Wardel, British artist talks sex, music, Bowie and his collaboration with Boy George
- 2013 `Punk Globe magazine December
- 2012 ‘Makers Mark’ Liverpool Echo 29/10/12
- 2010 ‘Tricks of the TradeMark’ Time Out London 25/10/10
- 2009 ’T-shirts to fame’ Sydney Morning Herald 17/2/09