Mark Messersmith (American 1955) is a painter whose highly realistic compositions combine vivid color and intricate imagery to explore the beauty and fragility of the natural world. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he earned a BFA in painting from Fontbonne College and an MFA in painting from Indiana University Bloomington. A longtime professor of painting and drawing at Florida State University, Metcalf creates layered environmental narratives that examine the relationship between humanity and nature, often suggesting both ecological vulnerability and enduring resilience.