A Fayetteville artist has created a new gallery space in north Fayetteville, and the new spot will be open to the public for the first time this weekend.

The gallery, called VELESERO, was created by local artist, designer and photographer Mark Jackson. It is located at 7200 S Pleasant Ridge Drive, just up the hill from the old ROTC location on Highway 112.

Jackson said he created VELESERO with an adjacent studio to create the work, and for now plans to show his own mixed-media photography and furniture designs. He plans to open the gallery space a couple times a year in the spring, summer, and fall.

“I continue to work as a commercial photographer as I have for almost 30 years,” he said. “I’ve made my studio convertible. One day it’s in studio form, clients are in, and we’re making advertising photography, mostly of food and interiors/architecture. But it can also flip in a matter of minutes and cross into ultra modern gallery space. And in this gallery space, I present VELESERO, showing wall art and furniture.”

The artwork itself, he said starts with his photography.

“I photograph everything that ultimately makes it to the wall,” he said. “I’m drawn to the optimistic and I love beauty. I often tell people I only want to look at pretty things. I gravitate to seascapes, the human figure and beautiful objects but always have my eyes open.”

Jackson creates the final images from the photographs using a process that is “complex and time consuming and sercet,” he said.

“I build the wall panels myself in the studio then lay down the image/ All by hand,” he said. “My photographic panels are not run through printers. This process is highly destructive which creates a very ‘broken in’ image full of imperfections. This method makes every image unique.”

The studio and gallery is located in a modern-looking building that has a bit of a futuristic feel. The building itself is actually part of the concept for the work.

“VELESERO is a place. I made it. It was established in 2056 and exclusively represents the work I made in the 2020’s and 2030’s,” Jackson told us.

The gallery will be open this weekend on Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 6 a.m. until noon. Most of the work, and the furniture in the space, will be available for purchase.

For a bit more information about the gallery, and a lot more photos of Jackson’s work, visit velesero.com.