CHALLENGE THE FAMILIAR.

“THE IDEA LIVES IN THE FREEDOM TO SEE DIFFERENTLY.” Mark Humphrey

Mark Humphrey is a British interdisciplinary artist. Humphrey founded his London studio in 2000 to conceive, design and make artworks that confront our actions, behaviours and beliefs, questioning the systems and values that shape our lives. His work explores the human condition and our relationship with people and planet.

Final Encore, The Other Palace, St James, London, 2011-2012

Humphrey questions what we recognise and asks: Why is it like this? How else can we see it? What else can it become?

His diverse and wide-ranging works are connected by the same impulse: to see differently – looking deeper, challenging what we think we understand and revealing the unexpected.

The familiar becomes a vehicle for the unfamiliar.

A portrait transforms identity.

A statue challenges healthcare.

A bust questions education.

A pavilion addresses climate change.

A staircase ascends achievement.

An armchair divides nations.

A dining table reveals poverty.

A bath overflows with war.

A shower exposes religious divisions.

A set of jackets confronts AI.

“ART REALLY IS LIFE IN MARK HUMPHREY’S ARTISTIC HANDS.” Financial Times

Everyday series, Pietrasanta, Italy, 2007-2012

For Humphrey, the idea comes first and the disciplines follow – sculpture, installation, painting, architecture, interiors and industrial design become blended mediums through which an idea can take shape, be explored and ultimately realised. 

His practice is meticulous, yet unrestricted. Materials are never too precious, too ordinary or too unconventional. From rare stone, Kevlar braid and abattoir blood to exotic skin, surgical needles and battlefield rubble, Humphrey embraces whatever the idea demands. Alongside the materials are the varied, sometimes complex and often highly specialised processes and techniques required to bring the idea to life.

From Oxford carbon fibre moulding, Pietrasanta marble carving and Venice glass blowing to Jaipur agate inlaying, Cape Town leather stitching and Istanbul silk weaving, Humphrey works across a vast range of technical and traditional craftsmanship. He has also developed his own studio style of making using oil paint and composite, he calls this technique painting on air. 

“MARK HUMPHREY, A POLYMATH FOR CREATIVITY, THAT’S WHAT WE LIKE, A MAN OUT THERE GETTING ON WITH IT, PUTTING SOMETHING BACK INTO THE COUNTRY, WE LOVE IT.” BBC

Staircase Sculpture studies, Westminster City Council, London, 2011

Explore Humphrey’s Tapestry Of Ideas, 1996–2026. An ever-growing montage of over 10,000 sketches forming a visual ‘ticker-tape’ timeline of his sketchbook pages, currently spanning 102 metres. Complementing his sketchbooks, Humphrey has made and handcrafted over 1,000 mixed media three-dimensional models.

Tapestry Of Ideas, 1996-2026

“YOU ARE A GENTLEMAN AND YOUR WORKS ARE WOW!” Ringo Starr

Throughout his career, Humphrey has worked with organisations, institutions, brands and individuals including Apple Records (The Beatles), the Ministry of Defence, Grosvenor Estate, Canary Wharf Group, KPMG, CBRE Group, ArcelorMittal, Jumeirah, Harrods, Fendi, Kenzo, Louis Vuitton, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. 

His art has travelled across the UK, with public unveilings in locations including Trafalgar Square and the National Maritime Museum, supported by city councils and officials. Other works have been shown internationally, from solo exhibitions in Mayfair galleries and at Art Basel to a protected historical wreckage site in the North Sea off the coast of Denmark, a lifestyle boutique on Madison Avenue in New York and a development at Repulse Bay in Hong Kong. Each project connects art, people and place, bringing ideas into communities worldwide.

His philanthropy has included donating artworks to support the British Armed Forces, Prostate Cancer UK, The Royal British Legion, Team GB and Paralympic GB, with some receiving dedications from members of the British Royal Family, Lord Mayors and UK Government ministers.

Break Point, 2021

Humphrey has also sponsored and created painting and sculpture concepts for the Royal Air Force, Chief of Defence People, Corps of Royal Engineers and National Trust, as well as interior and object concepts for Aston Martin and the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge club. His projects have received sponsorship from organisations including Rolls Royce and BAE Systems, with endorsements by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and military charities in the UK.

He has supported various fundraising initiatives and worked internationally with schools and UK Government trade delegations. He has also been invited to charitable events, including 10 Downing Street, British Consulates and Women For Women International in recognition of his community public art.

Humphrey has won international awards and has been invited to participate in worldwide competitions. Recently he was one of two finalists for the largest bank in Kazakhstan to create a monumental artwork in Astana. He is currently working on a sushi bar installation and street facade composition for a Park Lane restaurant. 

Discover some of the people – clients, collectors, collaborators and charities who have shared in Humphrey’s journey.

  • A Apple Records (The Beatles) 
  • B British Armed Forces
  • C Canary Wharf Group
  • D Dunhill
  • E
  • F Fendi
  • G Grosvenor Estate
  • H Harrods
  • I Italian Cultural Institute
  • J Jumeirah
  • K Kenzo
  • L Louis Vuitton
  • M Mayor of London
  • N National Maritime Museum 
  • O Osborne Samuel Gallery
  • P Prostate Cancer UK
  • Q Quintessentially Concierge 
  • R Ringo Starr
  • S Sunseeker
  • T Team GB
  • U UK Government
  • V Vitra
  • W Women For Women International
  • X
  • Y Yoo
  • Z Zoffany
Click to open full list
  • A 
    • ABF The Soldiers Charity
    • Allianz
    • Andrew Lloyd Webber
    • American Express
    • Apple Records (The Beatles) 
    • ArcelorMittal
    • Artichoke Arts
    • Asia Standard
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
  • B 
    • BAE Systems
    • BBC
    • Bentley
    • Blackburn Town Council
    • British Armed Forces
    • British Army
    • British Embassy Moscow
    • Buckled Records
  • C 
    • Canary Wharf Group
    • Cardiff City Council
    • CBRE Group
    • Chartwell (Sir Winston Churchill)
    • Chase Erwin
    • Chief of Defence People (MoD)
    • Churches Conservation Trust
    • City Planning Astana
    • Claudia Schiffer
    • Combat Stress
    • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
    • Corps of Royal Engineers
    • CP Hart
  • D
    • Decorex International
    • Dent London (Big Ben)
    • Design Centre London
    • Design Museum
    • Design School of Kazakhstan
    • Detail Design School
    • Dover Town Council
    • Dunhill
    • Dymov Ceramics
  • E
  • F 
    • Fendi
    • FIFA (Dent Clocks)
    • Football Association
    • Fort Burgoyne (The Land Trust)
    • Four Seasons Hotels
  • G 
    • George Harrison
    • Glasgow City Council
    • Greater London Authority
    • Grosvenor Estate
    • Guards Polo Club
  • H 
    • Halyk Bank
    • Harrods
    • Hatfield Park (Lord and Lady Salisbury)
    • Henry Bertrand
    • Hyde Yachts
  • I 
    • Italian Cultural Institute
    • Ivory Coast Embassy London
  • J 
    • John Lewis Partnership
    • Jumeirah
  • K 
    • Kenzo
    • KLC School of Design
    • Knight Frank
    • KPMG
    • Kuretake Pens
  • L 
    • Lacoste
    • Land Securities Group
    • Lawn Tennis Association
    • Leeds Castle
    • Louis Vuitton
    • LVHM
  • M 
    • Mayfair Hospitality Group
    • Mayor of London
    • Michael Schumacher
    • Mid Kent College (Holdfast)
    • Moroso
    • Movenpick 
  • N 
    • National Memorial Arboretum
    • National Maritime Museum
    • National Museum Astana
    • National Trust
    • Natural History Museum
    • Newcastle City Council
    • Nexpo Global
    • Nick Beighton
    • Norton Motorcycles 
  • O 
    • Osborne Samuel Gallery
  • P 
    • Paddle UK
    • Pampaloni
    • Paralympic GB (Paralympic Canoe Team)
    • Park Lane Group
    • Paul Smith
    • PDP London
    • Perspex
    • Peter Eyre
    • Poggenpoghl Kitchens
    • Poliform
    • Portmeirion Pottery
    • Premier League
    • Princess Pemberton
    • Private Collectors
    • Prostate Cancer UK
  • Q 
    • Quintessentially Concierge 
  • R 
    • Ralph Lauren
    • Revo (UK Shopping Centres)
    • Ringo Starr
    • Rolling Stones
    • Rolls Royce Cars
    • Rossana Kitchens
    • Royal Air Force
    • Royal Air Force Association
    • Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
    • Royal Air Force Charitable Trust
    • Royal Air Force Museum
    • Royal Armouries Museum
    • Royal British Legion Industries
    • Royal Engineers Museum
    • Royal Navy
    • Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity
    • Royal Wootton Bassett Academy
    • Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council
  • S 
    • Sean Fitzpatrick
    • Shizaru Gallery
    • Steven Gerrard
    • Stoll
    • Seguso Glassware
    • Sunseeker
  • T 
    • Tag Heuer
    • Team GB (Olympic Canoe Team)
    • The British Museum
    • The Not Forgotten Association
    • The Other Palace
    • The Poppy Factory
    • The Royal British Legion
    • The Rug Company
    • Transport for London
  • U 
    • UEFA Respect
    • UK Government/Department of Culture, Media and Sport 
    • UK Government/Department of Trade and Industry
    • UK Government/Ministry of Defence
    • US Embassy London
  • V 
    • Victoria Cross Society
    • Vitra
  • W 
    • Waterfront Bathrooms
    • Welsh Government
    • Westminster City Council
    • Wiltshire County Council
    • Women For Women International
    • Wool Classics
    • Wuppertal University 
  • X
  • Y 
    • Yoo
  • Z 
    • Zimmer Rohde
    • Zoffany