Mark Ryan Hackett, a Wichita Kansas based artist, graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in graphic design in 1996. Although working full time at Boeing, Mark focuses on his true passion… art.

Majoring in illustration, Mark’s main interests were pencil drawings, pen and ink, watercolor, and then eventually discovered making artworks on aluminum with a grinder. Starting out, he mainly grinded abstract pieces, until evolving into more realistic pieces, such as portraits.

Mark was a featured artist twice at “Exploration Place” in Wichita Kansas and also was a featured artist at “The Brickyard” and “Bella Luz” for “Final Friday,” an art event for the final Friday of the month in downtown Wichita.

“I named my grind art business “REAIGE” after my Granddaughter. We lost her in a car accident on January 14, 2022. Her name was Reagan Paige. She was only 6 years old. No one can take away the memories, good feelings, and love that you carry inside. That’s yours for as long as you want to hold on to it. Grief is love that you have inside you, that has nowhere to go. So, I put that love into my art and she inspires me to become better at it every day.”