Homage
to Lichtenstein I
Original serigraph
Signed by the artist
Numbered Artist proof III/IX
First in the series created in 1992
24 1/2 x 21 3/4" paper size
Archival framed in black lacquer
with reduced-reflection glass
$1,950 framed
Homage
to Lichtenstein II
Original serigraph
Signed by the artist
Numbered Artist proof III/IX
Second in the series created in 1992
21 3/4 x 24 1/2" paper size
Archival framed in black lacquer
with reduced-reflection glass
$1,450 framed
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Markus
Pierson was born in 1961 and raised in the small
farming town of Grand Ledge, Michigan, where his
father owned a popular restaurant. A self-proclaimed
reckless “racer”, Markus was the youngest and most
challenging of the four Pierson children.
While a student, an encouraging art teacher swung wide
the door to Markus’ talent and profoundly moved him.
However, the Grand Ledge art scene was somewhat lacking,
leading Markus to take on a number of odd jobs before
accidentally stumbling upon accounting as a means to
making a living. After a near-fatal bout with Crohn’s
Disease in early 1985, he declared that the accountant
was “dead” and in his place was a man pursuing his dream
of becoming a successful artist.
The Coyote Series was born in June of 1986, after Markus
heard the Joni Mitchell song, “Coyote.” He loved it,
played it often and memorized the words. The focus of
the song, a guy referred to as “Coyote,” is a reckless,
footloose Casanova type fellow – Pierson aspired to be
the carefree romancer described in those lyrics. Then he
did something he’d never done before or since: Markus
made a drawing of a song.
Over the next six months Markus painted billboards by
day for a living and drew his Coyotes into the night. To
the wall above his desk he taped these words, “No one
works this hard and this smart – and has it come to
nothing.” Within a year, he walked out of Artexpo in New
York City with commitments from 110 art galleries who
sought to represent his work.
In the decades that followed, Pierson’s work has evolved
to include a vast array of paintings, drawings,
sculpture, hand-pulled serigraphs and original
found-object works. Over time, the metaphor of the
Coyote has taken on a more poignant and profound
purpose. At its essence, the work urges us to pursue our
dreams, wear our hearts on our sleeves, and to celebrate
all of life’s ups and downs. He has had nearly one
hundred solo exhibitions in galleries across America,
Australia and New Zealand, while also being featured at
various prestigious international fairs including Art
Miami, Artexpo New York, Sofa Chicago, Chicago
Contemporary & Classic, and palmbeach3. Markus has
amassed a collector base which includes Heads of State,
major corporations and celebrities worldwide.
Markus’ wife and muse is artist, Sher Pierson. The two
live and work in a converted loft in Kansas City,
Missouri.
There’s no doubt in my mind that my success has more
to do with luck than talent, more to do with
stubbornness than vision, more to do with ignorance
than insight, but the fact remains that I pursued my
dream and attained it against staggering odds. I say
this now to anyone who will listen: even if I had
failed, it would have been worth it. Better to face a
brutal truth than to grow old wondering what might
have been. ~ Markus Pierson
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