Marc Nelipovich

Marc Nelipovich is a native Texan born in Houston Texas.  He currently resides near Austin TX in Driftwood where he is a musician, artist, and brewer. 

He has a Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music (Commercial Arranging 1995) graduating with honors and has been drawing ever since he can remember.  He has no formal art training outside of high school.  

In early 2001, inspired by outsider art that he’d seen around the country he began creating pieces of his own.  His art is a combination of his love of music and folk art.  The art is created in honor of, in celebration of and as a tribute to the musicians that have inspired him over the many years of his life.  Marc has created paintings of musicians from Robert Johnson to Miles Davis, Frank Zappa, Madonna, Angus Young of AC/DC, and even classical composers such as Erik Satie, Hector Berlioz, and J.S. Bach.  Writing on the frames is another way of expressing how a particular musician or music has affected Marc’s life.  The words on the frames are sometimes lyrics, quotes from the musicians themselves or from journalists, song titles, background information or historical information about the particular artist or their compositions.  Also, it adds another creative element in that the words can be written forwards, backwards, mirror image, upside-down, fragmented, or however Marc feels would fit the piece best.  Oftentimes, pieces include” found” elements, such as guitar/bass strings, guitar parts, and harmonica parts.  He also started a series of pieces painted on used drumheads titled “Drummers on Drumheads” which was featured online on DRUM! Magazine’s website. The pieces were originally created for the artist’s own pleasure.  Eventually family and friends started showing interest in his art and he created pieces for them as well as for sale.

His pieces are in the collections of many people including Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, the late Clifford Antone and Doyle Bramhall (Stevie Ray Vaughan collaborator), and Sweet Basil McJagger (The Derailers), Dave Steakley (Zach Scott Theatre - Producing Artistic Director), and local blues singer/bassist Erin Jaimes to name a few.

Marc also created much of the stage art for the Austin premiere of the musical “It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues” at the Zachary Scott Theatre in 2004, produced by Dave Steakley.  This was a blues musical revue showcasing the history of African American influence on American music, culture, and life.  The musical featured performances by many talented local singers and musicians as well as featuring performances by the late Doyle Bramhall and his band.  Marc’s art was displayed in the lobby as well.  After the performance the pieces used in the set were sold in a silent auction, with the proceeds going to SIMS Foundation.  His art was also featured in the lobby of the Watertower premiere of the same musical in Dallas TX.  It has also been displayed in many galleries in Austin and Texas including the old Art of 5th (when it was on 5th St.), Harold MacMillan's Diverse Arts, Antone’s Record Store, Kiowa Gallery (Alpine, TX), and nationally at Attic Gallery (Vicksburg, MS), Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art (Clarksdale, MS), and Slotin Folk Art Fest (Atlanta,GA).