Tlingit artist, Mark Preston, was born in Dawson City, Yukon in 1960. He began studying silver carving under renowned Gitksan artist, Phil Janzé as well as the traditional techniques of woodcarving, while attending K’san in Hazelton, BC.

 

In the height of his artistic career, Preston was a multidisciplinary artist who worked in a variety of media, with his contemporary pieces inspired by minimalism and abstraction. He re-contextualized Northwest Coast form-line shapes by making precise cutouts into panels, thus turning traditional shapes into negative space. His minimalist use of classic motifs speak to his Indigenous heritage, while his limited use colour —with signature works in all-white —symbolizes clarity, peacefulness, and open-mindedness, reflecting the northern landscapes that often surrounded him.

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Preston’s work is held in both private and public collections, including the Yukon Permanent Art Collection. He is represented by the Fazakas Gallery in Vancouver, and Emily Harding Gallery in Toronto.

 

In October 2022, Mark tragically passed away after a long battle with cancer.