Peanuts & Bologna Studios

Article by: Nicole Avila

In the vibrancy of the art community surrounding Pomona, CA, there is a quiet, but enchanting presence resonating through the charcoal and graphite of Mark Gomez’s masterpieces. His art doesn’t just ask to be admired, it demands to be deeply felt. Each and every piece feels like a well-kept secret that is finally being said out loud, in a moment of stillness and chaos, and at the heart of it all is Mark: soft-spoken, observant, and deeply human.

Known more for his surreal, emotionally vulnerable figures, Mark has a knack for exploring themes like isolation, trauma, suicidal thoughts, and personal rebirth. Pieces that display a visual intensity, such as “Shame and Ideation”, leave you with raw stories behind them. “Shame and Ideation” was originally held close to Mark’s chest, which later became a courageous admission of his own inner struggles with the ideation of ending one’s life. It was the idea that was sewn into him at an early age that haunted him with shame. A  reminder that sometimes the most powerful art is the kind made by someone who is still in the process of healing.

But Mark doesn’t leave his viewers in utter despair, he views hope as something earned and wholeheartedly worth reaching for. The use of ropes in his pieces represents a sense of denial and emotional restraint. The figures with roots? Well, roots are a symbol of growth and the ability to flourish after choosing acceptance.

In recent times, he has begun implementing the use of color into his typical monochromatic work, an emblematic shift toward an enlightening perspective.  Where shadow once was the main focal point, now emerges soft hues: violets, blues, yellows, and greens. All blooming like unspoken triumphs. His newest commissioned piece, “Nature, Nurture, Emmy” Mark dives into the duality of nature and the first thoughts in my mind were “How can one piece be both brutal and elegant at the same time?” The woman caught in between decay and bloom, it reflects the very tension one might feel. With brains cracked open, flowers stretching from limbs, and a skeletal face that’s not only about death, but recognizing the transformation. In the caption of this piece, Mark touched on his feelings during the process of creating this, “This was a challenge, but I enjoyed every part of this creation.” And trust me when I tell you this, Mark, the joy shows—not in the traditional sense of happiness—but in the depth of thought, in your commitment to creating work that speaks to more than just beauty. It reigns truth.

Despite his growing success, Mark remains grounded. By day, he works a humble job with the Walmart Distribution Center where he is far removed from gallery lights, he is still moving forward. Whether it means to push boxes or sketching figures into existence, he is well on his way toward his goal of pushing past his limits.

His humility is part of his allure. He doesn’t force his own meanings onto his viewers. In fact, one of his favorite moments in his career is when a stranger at a gallery understood his pieces exactly as he intended. Without being told about the real meaning of it, the silent understanding was everything to him.

Mark Gomez isn’t just drawing bodies… he’s drawing breath into buried emotions. Giving shape to feelings we often grapple to name. His evolving style, honest storytelling, and his newfound use of colors; Mark admonishes us to remember that even the darkest emotions can be illuminated—and that healing doesn’t have to be clamorous, and sometimes, it looks like a flower blooming on a bone.

Thank you all for tuning in! More articles are to come in the near future!

Mark Instagram

A classical favorite of Mark’s!