Mark Wentzel
“The exhibition DEAL features sculptural objects that, while initially appearing playful, reveal deeper layers of political and psychological tension. These works examine the dynamics of power, dissecting the complex interplay of cause and effect among individuals and groups. Made from found objects, scrap materials, tools, and sports equipment that have been radically transformed by cutting, burning, dipping, painting, and reassembling, the process evokes a post-mortem examination and preservation of a body. In this context, “deal” can refer to anything from a direct negotiation for mutual benefit to a grand scheme for collective advantage, a strategic move for personal gain, or even an ordinary pine board. Ultimately, DEAL delves into fundamental questions of consciousness and existence and the non-negotiable transactions of birth and death.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Mark Wentzel (b. 1970) is a visual artist from Detroit, Michigan, based in Atlanta, Georgia since 2008. He has been exhibiting professionally since 2005 when his sculpture “XLounge” was shown at Project 4 Gallery in Washington, DC, and later at ScopeNY, ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and as a series at the CDC Museum in Atlanta. Mark had his first solo exhibition at the Atlanta Contemporary Art in 2009, where he suspended a 1965 Ford Mustang from the ceiling during the peak of the 2008 auto industry crisis. His work has been featured in notable events such as the 2018 Venice Architectural Biennale, the V&A Museum during London Design Week, The Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, Art + Space at the Herman Miller National Design Center, and Atlanta’s Flux Projects. His current practice focuses on site-responsive installations using play objects, sports equipment, automotive forms, and other domestic ephemera. His playful forms, often arranged into “incidents” caught in mid-action, explore deeper themes of judgment, power, masculinity, and self-identity.