Mark Maggiori facts for kids

Mark Maggiori was born on June 16, 1977. He is a talented French-American artist. Mark is known for many things! He is a painter, a graphic designer, and a musician. He was also the lead singer of a band called Pleymo. Mark is especially famous for his amazing paintings. These paintings often show American cowboys, Native Americans, and the beautiful American Southwest.

Early Life and Learning

Mark Maggiori was born in Fontainebleau, France, in 1977. His father, Robert Maggiori, is a French writer and thinker.

When Mark was 15, he visited the United States for the first time. He took a long road trip from New York City to San Francisco. During this trip, he saw many National Parks and places in the American Southwest. This journey made him very interested in the Southwest. It also inspired him to create his Western art.

Mark later studied at the Académie Julian in Paris. There, he learned how to draw in a formal, artistic way.

Music Career

From 1997 to 2007, Mark Maggiori was the lead singer for his band, Pleymo. He also helped design their album covers and directed their music videos.

The band signed with Epic Records. They released four studio albums and went on tours around the world. Pleymo took a break after 2007. However, they got back together in 2018. Mark returned as the lead singer. When they announced a reunion concert in Paris, tickets for Le Trianon sold out in less than a day!

Pleymo Music Videos

Here are some music videos Pleymo released:

• 2002: « New Wave »
• 2002: « United Nowhere »
• 2003: « Divine Excuse »
• 2004: « Modaddiction »
• 2004: « On ne changera rien »
• 2005: « Rock »
• 2006: « Adrenaline »
• 2007: « L'instinct et l'Envie »

Other Music Videos Directed

Mark also directed music videos for other artists:

• 2008: Like A Hobo by Charlie Winston
• 2009: Apprends-Moi by Superbus
• 2010: Laisse Aller by Vadel
• 2010: I Love Your Smile by Charlie Winston
• 2010: Help Myself (Nous ne faisons que passer) by Gaetan Roussel
• 2010: Mes défauts by Superbus
• 2010: La Vengeance d'une Louve by Brigitte
• 2010: Ma Benz by Brigitte (Cover of NTM)
• 2010: Battez-vous by Brigitte
• 2011: I love you, mais encore by Starliners
• 2011: This is a love song by Lilly Wood & The Prick
• 2012: Drama Queen by Vadel
• 2012: Des mots invincibles by Leslie
• 2013: Paranoïak by Seth Gueko
• 2014: Comment faire by Plastiscines

Fine Art Painting

Mark Maggiori started painting scenes of the American West in 2014. Since then, his artwork has been shown in many magazines. These include Forbes, Flaunt, Art of the West, and Southwest Art.

People especially notice how Mark paints clouds in his landscapes. One writer, Christopher Barker, said they look like "layered, textural monuments." They make the main subject of the painting seem both tiny and huge at the same time.

Mark's paintings have been displayed in several museums. These include the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis. His art has also been shown at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles. In 2021, he showed paintings at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site in Taos, New Mexico.

Starting in 2017, Mark began painting outdoors, a style called en plein air. He painted in places like New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming. His painting style reminds some people of famous Western artists like Frederic Remington and Frank Tenney Johnson.

Beau Alexander, a gallery owner, noted that Mark's paintings are special. This is because Mark did not grow up in the American West. He brings a fresh view to the culture. Mark works hard to make sure the cowboys in his paintings look very real. He uses colors and techniques from his past work in photography and film. This helps him create very dramatic scenes.

In 2019, Mark Maggiori moved to Taos, New Mexico. In 2021, he started the Taos Pueblo Art Education Fund. This fund helps raise money for art programs at the Taos Day School.

Personal Life

Mark Maggiori was married to French singer-songwriter Aurélie Saada from 2000 to 2012. They have two children together. In 2012, he married American artist and designer Petecia Le Fawnhawk. They also have a daughter.