Mark Stephenson will judge the Stanly Arts Guild’s annual Art Explosion Show at 330-B N. Second St., the new home of the Stanly Arts Guild and gallery. It is directly beside Modern Beauty Salon at the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Second Street.

Art will be accepted there from 12-5 p.m. Oct. 26 and 12-4 p.m. Oct. 27.

Artists over the age of 18 are qualified to enter up to four pieces of work in three categories. Cash and ribbon awards will be presented to the winners at a reception from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 17.

The public will be welcome to attend and meet the artists.

For a prospectus, go to www.fallingriversgallery.com or call the gallery at 704-983-4278 and look under art shows and things to do.

About Mark Stephenson

North Carolina native Mark Stephenson is a full-time artist based in Salisbury. A graduate of Pfeiffer University, North Carolina State University and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Stephenson earned degrees in Civil Engineering and Vocal Performance.

Stephenson relocated to New York City in the 1990s where he studied at the Art Students League with noted painters and sculptors Frank O’Cain, Leonid Gervitz and Leonid Lerman.

Success at the Art Students League ushered in awards and commissions including acceptance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s copyists program.

Since returning to North Carolina, Stephenson has devoted much of his time to commissioned portraits.

He has exhibited in many national juried shows and his work, both figurative and landscape, has been featured in solo shows throughout the state. In May 2014, Stephenson was artist in residence at La Macina di San Cresci, Italy.

In the spring of 2014 he was also selected as one of nine Community Supported Artists by the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte.
For this selection, Stephenson was commissioned to complete 50 original paintings for collectors throughout the state.

He was recognized in 2012 by the Portrait Society of America Members Only competition.

He is a member of Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America.