MARK EXLINE

Mark Exline is an award-winning Artist, Designer, and Production Manager based in Kansas City, Missouri. Passionate about visual storytelling, Mark blends classical theatre training with a contemporary aesthetic, using luminosity and new materials to create innovative environments and images that reexamine their source material in entirely unexpected ways. He is adept at managing and executing high-quality productions for global audiences, with a deep understanding of lighting, sound, scenic, and costume design. In 2024 he was named "Best Local Artist" by the Kansas City Pitch. His work can most often be seen in affiliation with Quixotic Entertainment, where he is a Core Company member.

"I try to think of scenery more as a puppet than an environment. I find that incorporating light, movement, and unorthodox materials into a design can help make the world of a production feel as alive as the performers, and provide a storytelling structure that is as emotional as it is physical."

In his Studio practice, Mark focuses on work and media that encourage free exploration independent of the rigid structures of design. He finds the fluidity of water and boldness of ink and color introduce him to shapes and characters he would otherwise not create. These explorations often make their way into his design process, resulting in new and exciting installations, costumes, acts, and events.

Ink and Watercolor Sketch on Paper