Mark Flood: Gratest Hits

by Mark Flood (Artist), Carlo McCormick (Contributor), El Topito (Contributor)

Mark Gratest Hits is the first survey of the work of Houston-based artist Mark Flood (born 1957) dating from the 1970s to 2016. Described by The New York Times as a “painter and punk propagandist,” Flood has, despite remaining barely visible at the museum level, maintained an active and influential career for decades in painting and, increasingly, exhibition practice, producing work characterized by deep wisdom and trenchant humor. With Gratest Hits , Flood--an artist so absolute in his judgments that one 2012 painting featured the words “Whore Museums, Gutless Collectors, Blind Dealers, So-Called Artists” emblazoned on it--finally gets the monographic museum treatment in his hometown, and a career-spanning catalogue to boot. This fully illustrated, full-color volume features texts by Carlo McCormick, Alison Gingeras, El Topito, Scott Indrisek and Bill Arning, the exhibition’s curator and director of the Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston.

208 pages, Paperback

Published August 23, 2016

Reviews

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I have known Mark Flood since before he had this name.

My description of Mark's personality is based upon observations of his behavior over 25 years. He has always been straight-forward and kind. He is a truth-teller. He is smart. He has a wonderful sense of humor. He understands the miasma of the art world and is able to succeed without compromise.

It is grate that this catalogue is able to capture some of the vitality of Mark's life in 208 pages.