T H E A R T I S T
MARK NORDQUIST
A California native whose family always included a menagerie of pets, Mark loved the outdoors, spending vacations at the beach, the mountains and the desert. Introduced to camping, fishing and hunting through the Boy Scouts, Mark earned the highest rank of Eagle at age 13.
The youngest of three brothers, Mark developed the heart of a gamesman early. He played football, basketball and even chess, which was to figure strongly in his sculpting future. After college, Mark went on to play for 9 years in the National Football League (Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears) where he was an offensive guard and team captain.
At midlife, Mark, an avid scuba diver, was inspired to sculpt his first chess set using a sea animal theme (Le Mer). His natural talent revealed itself immediately and today this self-taught artist’s animal themed chess sets are the signature works in his line of fine art sculptures.
The youngest of three brothers, Mark developed the heart of a gamesman early. He played football, basketball and even chess, which was to figure strongly in his sculpting future. After college, Mark went on to play for 9 years in the National Football League (Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears) where he was an offensive guard and team captain.
At midlife, Mark, an avid scuba diver, was inspired to sculpt his first chess set using a sea animal theme (Le Mer). His natural talent revealed itself immediately and today this self-taught artist’s animal themed chess sets are the signature works in his line of fine art sculptures.