Mark Gagnon was born in Salem, Ohio and received his BFA from Ohio State University. He currently lives in New York City. His work has been featured in The New Yorker, Visionaire, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, Rolling Stone, Interview, GQ, V, Vogue, Travel and Leisure, Harpers Bazaar, Wallpaper, Paper and many other editorial publications from around the world.

Gagnon's work has also been featured on several book covers for such publishers as Penguin Books, Little Brown and Henry Holt. He has also been a recurring contributor to the prestigious American Illustration. Highlights in Gagnon’s painting career include being commissioned by the Lower Eastside Tenement Museum in 2003 executing a series of historical portraits are permanently located in the museum's headquarters on Orchard Street. A solo show of his paintings was shown at Stricola Gallery in 2008. In 2009 he was awarded commission from the City of New York through “Percent for Art” program, which is in the city’s permanent collection and can be seen at the newly built PS169.

In 2010 and 2011 Bergdorf Goodman commissioned Gagnon for solo installations featuring his paintings and sculptures in their fifth avenue windows. Bergdorf Goodman celebrated their 111th Anniversary in 2012 by commissioning Gagnon in collaboration with Samantha Smith to produce a century of clothing made in paper and paint.  Recently the Swiss luxury watch company Audemars Piguet recently commissioned Gagnon in 2013 to execute a large-scale mural for their headquarters in Le Brassus, Switzerland. In 2014 Gagnon launched "Out To See" a cultural event located the South Street Seaport, featuring 31 artists, 5 bands hosted in 17 venues.

  In 2015 Gagnon was asked to collaborate with Opening Ceremony on a project for Christmas at the White House. His paper mache urns were also featured in Vanity Fair, Veranda and Architectural Digest.