Mark Roger Bailey

I create art to discover the overlooked. My influences include the timelessness of pictorialism, the purposefulness of Cartier-Bresson, and the regional realism of Andrew Wyeth. I am drawn to a rich artistic tradition where every element seeks a visionary pitch.

From New England shoreline inlets to Rome’s River Tiber to Western Australia’s Gage Roads, my work focuses on the decisive instant when light and dark find drama in a dynamic atmosphere. The subject might be the light itself, a body forgotten when distracted, or the setting sun’s light warming a coastal forest.

Art refreshes perspective. Mine tends towards landscapes, sea states, atmospheres, and change. As nature evolves, so do my finish’s tone, mood and details. I strive to capture character and purpose in the frame. My use of color is personal, with symbolic undertones. Through these artworks, I suggest a theme of a fleeting imbalance between opposing elements, which is life-in-progress and leads to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our heritage. I understand more than before. 



Biography

Following graduate study in photography at Syracuse University, Mark Roger Bailey achieved success in commercial photography and documentaries. His eye for up-close-and-pers...

Following a B.S. in Film and an M.S. in journalism, photography, and cinematography at Syracuse University, Bailey excelled in photography and documentary filmmaking. His eye for up-close and personal storytelling led ABC Sports to recruit him for on-air Olympics commentary.

He created and directed advertising campaigns for VISA, American Airlines, Chevrolet, National Geographic, Time-LIFE, and Major League Baseball, always with a developing artist’s aesthetic.


Next, Bailey’s coverage of yachtsman Dennis Conner’s triumphant four-year Stars & Stripes ‘87 America’s Cup campaign. Massive global television viewership ensued, including the team’s White House presentation of the Cup to President Ronald Reagan. He also directed coverage of the Blue Riband transatlantic record crossing attempts by Sir Richard Branson and Tom Gentry.



At Sony Pictures Entertainment and Columbia TriStar Home Video, he created marketing for Men in Black, Legends of the Fall, A Few Good Men, Das Boot, Jerry Maguire and other major motion pictures.



In 2018, he covered the Tall Ships Races on the North Sea for Getty Images and the barque Star of India's 155th anniversary sail off San Diego.



After a successful career working with premium American ...

Best of Show - SKIES Exhibition
Colors of Humanity Art Gallery, February 2025

Best of Show, Second
John G. Mitchell Environmental Conservation Award
Lyme Land Trust, 2011

Second, Honorable Mention
Lyme Land Trust, 2010

Third
Lyme Land Trust, 2009