M. Mark Bauer (b. 1946) is a painter whose imaginative, intricately detailed compositions explore relationships among humanity, nature and the absurdities of contemporary life. Born in National City, California, Bauer earned a B.A. in 1968 from San Diego State College and an M.F.A. in 1972 from the University of California, Davis. His early career included exhibitions at the Richmond Art Center, Crocker Art Gallery and Oakland Museum of California, where he received a painting merit award in 1973. Following military service during the Vietnam War and a lengthy period devoted to professional and family responsibilities, Bauer returned to painting, developing a visual language characterized by fantastical, colorful figures, elaborate patterns and humor. His compositions reveal unexpected details and layered narratives about human behavior and the natural world. Bauer's work has been exhibited at Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento; the de Young Museum, San Francisco and numerous California galleries.