Mark London Biographical Information
Mark London was born and raised in Hollywood,
CA to an artist/musician mother, and commercial packaging designer
father. Mark formally began his art career as soon as he could hold a
crayon. As his mother could see, Mark was getting straight A's in
school, not for his english and math skills, but for his artwork that
filled the margins and all outer space available on any given test or
homework assignment. With an older brother and sister to influence him,
coupled with a steady diet of Rock and Roll music, Monster magazines,
and a Television for best friends, Mark London was ready to begin his
"art attack".
Drawing pictures of monsters and chopper
motorcycles on his schoolmates notebooks for candy and pinball money,
he saw the value of his work. Mark began designing logos and creating
new packaging for his father's company at the age of 18, and in 1998,
met legendary graphic poster artist Dennis Loren (Jimi Hendrix, Big
Brother etc..) Seeing something special in Mark's work, Dennis began to
collaborate with Mark on a number of C.D. art projects for Del-Fi
records. In 1999, Dennis, along with great friend and investor Joe
Weiss, encouraged Mark to think about doing his first rock concert
poster. Living on a friend's couch at the time, Mark took the hint.
Mark's first poster done for Beach
Boy's founder Brian Wilson at the famous Wiltern Theatre in Los
Angeles, was done in spite of the fact that the Venue would not give
him any information on the show's promoters, forcing Mark to produce an
"illegal" poster that he sold out of in the parking lot of the Wiltern
as the fans left the show. In the same parking lot, Mark was given his
second poster project done for "Guided by Voices". Seeing the great
response Brian's fan's had to the Wiltern poster, Mark decided to sell
a few more at the following night's show in nearby Anaheim, CA. He was
promptly found out by Brian's publicist Jean Sievers, who instead of
having Mark arrested, bought three copies of the poster, and along with
Beach Boys lawyer Elliot Lott , Company President Ronnie Lippin, and
Brian's wife Melinda, hired Mark on the spot to do his first (of now 8)
"official" posters for Brian Wilson. (The $10 "illegal" Wiltern poster
sold in the parking lot, was auctioned by a customer on the internet
for $175.00 within a week of the show).
Mark has created posters for such diverse acts
ranging from 1950's Horror hostess and Cult idol Vampira, to Pop icon
Nancy Sinatra. Mark was also commissioned to produce for Electric
Factory Concerts, series poster #30 for the Go Go's/B52's Philadelphia
show. Other acts include - Blue Oyster Cult, Animals founder Eric
Burdon, Dick Dale, The Kinks' Dave Davies, and Nick Cave.In May of
2000, Mark was asked by collaborater/photographer Robert Matheu to sign
his now legendary "Brian on the Sunset Strip" poster over to the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. This poster was done to commemorate the
recording of Brian Wilson's first ever live solo record.
Mark is Represented by Hal Lifson 310-226-2895