Mark Daly OPA
Born in 1956, Mark Daly grew up near the water on Long Island. With his mother’s encouragement, he began to draw at a young age. He learned to draw the area’s boats and coastline under the mentorship of Woodhull B Young (Curator of the Vanderbilt Museum).
Mark started painting late in life (at age 51). A thirst for learning, hard work, and mentorship by CW Mundy OPAM helped Mark became a professional painter in 2010. Today, Mark has a studio on the coast of Maine. His goal is to create memorable, old-master-quality art that stands the test of time.
Mark’s artwork is in distinguished private, corporate, and university collections, worldwide. He has won First Place/Gold Medal and other prominent awards in international and national juried art exhibitions and has had nine solo shows. He travels worldwide to paint on location.
Mark is a Signature Member and an elected Board Member of the American Impressionist Society. He is also a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America, the American Society of Marine Artists, the Cincinnati Art Club, a Juried Artist Member of the Rockport Art Association & Museum, and an elected Shareholder of the Cincinnati Art Museum. Mark graduated from Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He has a master’s degree from The University of Pennsylvania. Mark is represented by Rehs Contemporary Galleries (NYC), Cincinnati Art Galleries (Cincinnati, OH), and Folly Cove Fine Art (Rockport, MA).
An experience that helps Mark be a better artist is composing, sharing the joy of music, and playing mandolin with his sons. Mark has written over 50 original, published compositions that include performances by Grammy Award winning musicians. He is a Voting Member of the Grammys (more info at www.MandoMusic.com).
Select Achievements:
- The Schooner Stephen Taber (oil, 24” x 18”) won First Place Overall in PleinAir Salon’s 14th Annual Art Competition (July). Judge Michelle Dunaway provided the following commentary, “This painting exudes an old master quality, and I can see it hanging in a museum next to Winslow Homer and Tuner and holding its own.” In total, Mark has won twelve PleinAir Salon awards including First Place Overall, Best Vehicles (4x), Best Building (3x), Best Nocturne, Sunrise, Sunset (2x), Best Water, and Honorable Mention (2x).
- The Hesper’s Reflections (oil, 20” x 16”) won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Almenara Art Prize. The painting is a Semi-Finalist in the 17th ARC (Art Renewal Center) Salon Competition and won The Best Vehicles Award (November) in PleinAir Salon’s 13th Annual International Art Competition.
- Mark has exhibited in twenty-four American Impressionist Society (AIS) shows (National, Small Works, All Member Online). He gave a keynote presentation, How Do Your Paintings Sound at the Shalin Liu Center for the AIS 25th National Juried Exhibition. His painting, Flags, President’s Day (oil, 24” x 18”) won the Dickinson Signature Member Award at the AIS 14th National Juried Exhibition.
- Harbor Lights won First Place, Oil Painters of America (OPA) Spring 2017 National Showcase Competition.
- PBS TV (CET) filmed and aired a half hour segment with Mark Daly and David Hausrath (Cincinnati Art Galleries owner) on Showcase with Barbara Kellar.
- Mark has been juried into every ASMA show (National, International, Online) since becoming a Signature member in 2018. The ASMA Journal published, Mark Daly’s Art Career: The Fruit of Rich Cross-fertilization.
- Six Daly paintings are published in the book: Stars & Stripes; The American Flag in Contemporary Art (E. Ashley Rooney & Stephanie Standish, Schiffer Publishing, 2015). Mark’s painting, Presidential Flags is represented on the cover.
- Glory Days (oil, 24” x 30”) won First Place (Gold Medal)at ViewPoint 45 (45th National Juried Exhibition).