Liget Gallery Presents New Works by Sculptor Mark P. Williamson
First European Solo Exhibition for Artist

Budapest, Hungary – June 12, 2006 – Liget Gallery today announced a solo exhibition of new works by the US sculptor, Mark P. Williamson.   The opening of the exhibition will be held June 17, 2006 in the artist’s Csengery Utca studio in central Budapest.

“The works created by Williamson these past months are unique in my experience as a curator of contemporary art.  His use of plastic straws creates metaphors that are compelling to the viewer; his use of such commercial materials in the creation of these works adds chilly commentary to much of today’s contemporary life”, commented Tibor Várnagy, Director of Liget Gallery.   “We are delighted to be able to exhibit an American take on themes and techniques our supporters might not otherwise have an opportunity to view”.

2D Beckett 1

The exhibition will feature 10 new works, each created in Budapest using Williamson’s own technique for combining plastic drinking straws, roofing tar, and epoxy resin.  The majority of the works are abstract in design.  Two echo the works of Jasper Johns in that the works examine symbols contained by a flag of the US and a flag of the State of Texas, titled “Bubble of Youth“ and “The Republic” respectively.  Two works are based on the bust of the Irish playwright, Samuel Beckett, and one examines the 400 million year old tiktaalik roseae.

About Mark P Williamson
Over the last 5 years, Williamson has gained acceptance into more than 20 national juried competitions, winning several top awards in 2003 and 2004.  In 2005, Williamson apprenticed at the studio of Jesus Moroles, later accepting offers of representation from three Texas art galleries in Austin, Dallas, and Rockport.  In 2006, he accepted offers of representation from an art dealer in New York.

Also in 2006, large-scale granite works were exhibited in China at the Shanghai Invitational Landscape Sculpture Exhibition, and in San Antonio, Texas at the Sculptors Dominion Invitational.  Williamson has also been invited by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Landscape Sculpture Designs Contest.

While primarily focused on large-scale stone works, Williamson also experiments with non-traditional media, especially colored plastic drinking straws.  His work reflects the notion that living organisms and a life force can be found in any object.  Williamson currently resides in Dallas, Texas and Budapest, Hungary.
For more information, visit www.sculptormarkpwilliamson.com.