Marko Hila was born in Albania in 1977.
His childhood was spent outdoors, exploring and daydreaming amidst the natural beauty of his Mediterranean coastal hometown.
Marko began drawing at a very young age, and by the age of six, he was already taking professional drawing classes. This early and consistent engagement with art naturally shaped his work, inspiring him to draw and paint the Mediterranean landscape and seascape. At 15, Marko moved to Santorini and supported himself by creating pastel portrait paintings. After six years, he traveled through Europe, living in Venice, Paris, Brussels, Bonn, and London. Marko attended the University of Arts in Tirana and later pursued cinematography, earning a diploma from the New York Film Academy in NYC. His work in film, television, and as a freelance cinematographer across four continents allowed him to develop a keen eye for light and design, elements that he later incorporated into his paintings.
While Marko is skilled in various mediums, he favors oils. He enjoys both plein air and studio painting. His work is influenced by leading landscape artists such as Kevin Macpherson, Clyde Aspevig, and Joe Paquet, as well as portraiture masters like John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, and JoaquÃn Sorolla. Marko is passionate about exploring color through the prismatic palette and favors loose brushwork to achieve a painterly realism aesthetic.
Currently, he draws inspiration from the Australian landscape and seascape, as well as from photographs of places he has visited and feels a connection with. His artistic philosophy is rooted in a deep connection and sensitivity to his subjects.
Marko is available for private commissions for portraits and landscapes.