Mark Jared Zufelt is a Seattle-based visual storyteller, recognized for his powerful narratives in multiple artistic mediums. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Washington, where he explored the intersection of visual and performing arts. Prior to that, he completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of California, Irvine. Zufelt is an alumnus of the National High School Institute for Theatre Arts (NHSI) at Northwestern University and has completed coursework towards a Certification in Photography from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Zufelt has been recognized for his artistic contributions and has received various awards, including the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) New Generations Fellowship and the Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship in Theatre for Social Change (Arena Stage, Washington DC). He was also a grantee of the Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) and has been awarded the Seattle Times Footlight Award twice for Best Mainstage Production and Best Fringe Production.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Zufelt has worked with many art forms, including theatre, poetry, and photography. Zufelt says, "Ultimately, whether it be developing a new play with a team of 30 in a rehearsal room, crafting a poem alone in the middle of the night, or working one-on-one with a model on location, the work always comes back to storytelling... the power of narrative to change our lives."
Recently, Zufelt was selected for the Magnum Photos Long-Term Mentorship program with Alex Majoli and Gilles Peress for the 2022-23 year. Zufelt's work has been showcased in exhibitions such as An Articulation of Dolls produced by the Seattle Fringe Festival and Animal Farm, Tim Rollins and K.O.S.: A History produced by Frye Art Museum and Next Stage Theatre.
Zufelt's work has been published in various magazines such as Mob Journal, Elléments Magazine, Obsession Magazine, Flawless Magazine, and City Arts Magazine. Zufelt's photography work has also been featured in Sports Illustrated.
As an Adjunct and Guest Artist, Zufelt has taught at institutions such as Seattle University, Cornish College of the Arts, and North Seattle College. Zufelt has also worked with the Philippine Educational Theatre Association in Manilla as a Guest Director.
Zufelt's photography work has been described as powerful and evocative. In a review, Shoutout SoCal says, "Mark's ability to capture his subject's emotions and the mood of the moment is truly impressive." Zufelt's work has been influenced by his mentors Jon Jory, Gilles Peress, and Alex Majoli.
Zufelt's experience as a theatre director has also influenced his photography work. In a review, The Stranger writes, "Zufelt’s photographs [are] imbued with a sense of narrative drama, each image telling a story, often with a strong sense of performance."
Zufelt's diverse artistic background and ability to tell stories through multiple mediums make him a standout visual storyteller, dedicated to creating impactful narratives through his art.