Abstract artist paints until the work looks complete

One of Olson's paintings.Abstract painter Mark Olson’s work will be on display in the College of Health and Human Services second floor art gallery through Dec. 18, and a reception that is free and open to the public is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the gallery. Parking will be free in lot 104.

Olson is a self taught artist with a diverse background. After graduating from Western Michigan University with a masters in applied mathematics, he worked as a software engineer. He then co-founded an information technology consulting company in West Michigan and also a coaching and training company focused on helping athletes and health-conscious people reach their fitness goals.

Olson had a strong interest in abstract art throughout his life but did not explore "being an artist" until his late 30’s. He then taught himself to paint, researching artists such as Pollack, Rothko, Kline and Richter—and setting up a studio in his dining room. This simple beginning quickly escalated into an intense need to paint, and paint and paint.

About his painting Olson says, "My work is inspired from three different sources: nature, mathematics and what I call a mindscape. From nature and mathematics come colors, structures and order; and from mindscapes come layers and arrangements of chaos and randomness." Except for commissioned works, Olson’s goal is not to represent anything visually recognizable but to paint until the work looks complete.

Olson’s work hangs in residential and business sites throughout Michigan, and he has shown work at the Mid-Town gallery in downtown Kalamazoo and at numerous Kalamazoo businesses with the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo’s Art Hop. Also, one of his works was selected for the Kalamazoo Institute of Art for the prestigious South West Michigan Artist Show in 2013. 

The public is also invited to view the exhibit through Dec. 18, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Gay Walker at gay.walker@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3839.