Mark Hicks

Mark Hicks was an abstract painter and quadriplegic from Manhattan Beach, California. At the age of 12, he became a quadriplegic after falling out of a tree. Hicks gained attention as the subject of the 1977 Academy Award-winning documentary short film, Gravity Is My Enemy. The documentary, directed by John C. Joseph and produced by his art teacher Jan Stussy, explores Hicks' life as a student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and his journey as an artist. It also features his first gallery show in San Francisco. Mark Hicks' life and work continue to be celebrated through this influential documentary.