Mark Cooley’s work explores the intersections of art, activism and everyday life. Particular interests over the years: U.S. foreign policy, the fine art and popular culture industries, the political economy of new technologies, ecology, permaculture, and the art of everyday life. Cooley’s solo and collaborative works have been exhibited internationally, including: The St. Louis Science Center, Exit Art (NYC), The Art Institute of Chicago, The World Social Forum (Mumbai), MediaLabMadrid (Madrid), and FADO Performance Art Center (Toronto), The Institute of Contemporary Art (London). Cooley’s sporadic writings have been published in various journals and websites over the years, and most recently in Sue Spaid’s book, Green Acres: Artists Farming Fields, Greenhouses, and Abandoned Lots.
Mark is also an Associate Professor and Director of New Media Art in George Mason University’s School of Art, where he currently teaches New Media, Cyberpunk, and Eco-Art. In 2010, Cooley helped found and continues to direct the SoA Green Studio, a living outdoor eco-art studio on the grounds of the Art and Design building.
Mark is also a musician whose sporadic performances include national experimental and electroacoustic music festivals and local outings playing with his daughter Celia. Mark has recorded for Lux Eterna Records (Washington DC), Electroshock Records (Russia), and Sonic Circuits (Washington DC). His last two albums, self released under Flawdio Records, have received significant airplay on Washington DC’s, 89.3 WPFW.