Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Calabro.
Michael, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
So briefly it will start, creating is what I know. I was born in northern New Jersey into an immigrant mentality family of Musicians, actors, hard workers and loving parents. I knew from the first time I painted a classmate’s hair green in kindergarten, which had crawled under my easel, I was to paint things even with a week detention as punishment. A pivotal point was at 11 when black room photography and origami were introduced. Continuing to explore these through some years, painting and sculpture were found to be home.
A 2014 BFA graduate from William Paterson University with highest honors and the recipient of the Bill & Evelyn Wilson Foundation Scholarship for painting, I found myself opening a studio and artist gallery in Piermont, NY called Tess Delia Studio. Here has awarded the opportunity in displaying contemporary artist’s works as well as my own to communicate and engage with the community. After four years of this space, recently I have closed this door and moved on to another private studio continuing the development of my practice. I call it practice for the reason that I continue to get all the bad paintings out so the sometimes-good ones emerge.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Majority of my paintings are created in mixed media including Oils, Color pencil, watercolor, and pen on paper. Paper allows for each medium to hold their own space while tactile qualities emerge through the majority of oil paint on the surface. Each composition starts in a sketchbook with a narrative in mind giving direction. Once ready an automatic drawing takes place with a part of the original sketch lingering below. Going about the work in this way allows for continual insight for the unknown and truthful visuals to the insanity around.
Creating paintings from these drawings have certain limitations structurally in transition to paintings due to lines being linear and free. Introducing form with paint creates a new pictorial language to develop in my work. I see this language as a vehicle for each individual to dissect as they see which brings a continual emergence of meaning from the painting. Figurative subjects continue to dominate my paintings while still life’s interchange places with figures in the compositions. A balancing act of figure against botanicals set the stage in duality with one another. Each the abstracted organic flower and figure hold presence while inspiration and meaning are challenged between society, borders, monarchies and basic needs. These subjects embody the paintings which play on motifs of art history including Romanticism, AbEx, and Cubism.
My current body of work displays an ambiguous wondrous segregated surface in color yet a grotesque side embodies figures with inspiration by works of James Ensor, George Condo, and particularly DeKooning’s Woman series. Subjects recently have emerged with a cartoon quality projecting the reality of our current day malice. This subconscious choice of cartoons allows individuals a chance to enter a space we may not have, serious subject matter, in hopes of achieving some laughter or at very least a smirk.
Given Everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national, or international events & issues affect your art?
Our world issues have been dominating the everyday. Whether or not a conscious decision to make political art happens, a bit creeps into paintings regardless. How can one not have enormous feelings toward these events? The great battle of ego’s, religion, and sex are guiding the ever-shaping landscape of our world. Politically charged art has its deep history and I feel the urgency is the same now. Growing up with a spiritual foundation inequality to neighbors goes against a simple ideal, love thy neighbor as thyself, which puts a major conflict to what is accruing day to day at borders across the world. As I feel the ever present divide I continue to act against this thru my paintings by simplifying major issues into saturated nonphysical worlds.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Currently a couple of paintings hang in a group show in Orangeburg, NY at Volition Gallery. I can always be found thru email or my website which is currently being rebuilt to include a shop where paintings and drawings will be available for purchase. But we cannot avoid Instagram as the preferred platform of current work and connectivity. Works have been seen at Union Arts Center, 95 ½ Main Gallery, Volition Gallery, and the Renaissance Hotel. Talking about support, if you love it and it speaks to you buy it. Art brings endless value into our lives; paintings move us and with us.
Contact Info:
- Address: 265 Piermont Ave, Piermont, NY 10968
- Website: www.michaelthomascalabro.com
- Phone: 2016555164
- Email: calabromichael@gmail.com
- Instagram: @michaelthomascalabro
Image Credit:
All Photographic Services
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
