Pages turned

On first encountering Mark Laub’s conceptually complex, exquisitely crafted pieces, it would be easy to assume that “working artist” has been his lifelong career. Not so. It was only 25 years ago that Mark, now in his mid-70s, left the energy trading company he had led as founder and CEO to build a craft-centered life and livelihood.

But another assumption that Mark’s friends and collectors have held over the years—that his singular vision and outsized bursts of productivity reflect “a differently wired brain”—is correct. Recently Mark decided to start opening up with people about the treatment-resistant bipolar depression he was first diagnosed with in his late 20s. Reflecting on his decision to end the “days of living in shame and secrets and stigma,” Mark noted that “clients and friends said they somehow knew.”

Bipolar depression affects Mark’s work in a number of ways. On an upswing, he has tremendous productivity and vision; on the other side of the continuum, productivity slows to a “snail’s pace” or disappears entirely. These ups and downs are more manageable in Mark’s work as an artist than they were in his corporate career because, as Mark put it, “I am my own boss, subject only to my clients’ expectations. As an artist, I feel much better day to day and have the confidence to struggle through and meet challenges.”

Art also provides a means to process the struggle of living with mental illness. About “Pages Turned, Pages Cut and Burned,” pictured above, Mark said, “Everything about this art deco styled piece is double entendre…a metaphor for my life with bipolar depression and my recent extended treatment for it.”

Mark has been an ACC member for decades and has built close relationships with organization staff. He credits his connection to ACC, including as a participating artist in Baltimore and St. Paul, Minnesota shows as the “number one factor” in his professional success in terms of marketing and building relationships with clients and fellow artists. “Shows were always very helpful even when I didn’t sell a lot,” Mark stated. “I used them to observe people’s reaction to my work—to see what they responded to and what they didn’t.”

Mark’s love for ACC translates into his generosity as a donor and member of our Aileen Osborne Webb Legacy Circle. He is passionate about our work to support early career makers, and that concern for rising generations of craft artists is reflected in his newfound openness about mental health and willingness to be interviewed for this article. “Craft is everything to me, and I hope I can help a craftsperson struggling with mental illness know they are not alone.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or experiencing a crisis, call or text 988 to access confidential support from trained counselors available 24/7.

Mark Laub participated in American Craft Made Baltimore 2025, and in October will celebrate 25 years of doing business as Mark Laub Studios. Learn more about Mark and his work at marklaub.com.