Mark Paul Deren

About

Contemporary artist also known as Madsteez and known for his vibrant and large-scale murals and multi-layered paintings that blend abstract forms with pop culture iconography. He is also known for sharing his artwork online on his Instagram account.

Before Fame

He grew up with an appreciation and love for art. He pursued formal education in art by attending California State University, Long Beach. He graduated with a degree in graphic design. He began working with brands such as Nike, Target, Red Bull, and Volkswagen which helped boost his artistic career. He began sharing on Instagram in the mid-2010s. 

Trivia

He was born blind in his left eye. His work frequently incorporates elements from popular culture, including characters from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Magnum P.I., and Pee-wee Herman. He created a series of whimsical human-animal hybrid characters known as WEEN!MALS, which were featured in his mural project WEENsville in Fairfax, Virginia in 2020. 

Family Life

He was born in Virginia, United States. He grew up just outside Washington, D.C.

Associated With

He painted a portrait of actor and artist Dennis Hopper in 2007, who had previously only posed for Andy Warhol and Julian Schnabel. He painted a mural of Luka Doncic in April 2025.