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PictureScent of Penuel (Sailing with Orion), oil and mixed media on canvas
Michael McKenzie

Artist Statement
For years my work dealt with issues of Duality......Gravity/Levity   Doubt/Faith   Life/Death  Comedy/Tragedy   Fact/Fiction    Age/Youth   Male/Female Conscious/Unconscious Intellectual/Intuitive   Micro/Macro   Timeless/Fleeting   Transcendence/ Earthly

Recently I have been interested in thoughts of Unity Consciousness ....that everything is connected. I am humbly open to experiences of creativity, flow, and love.

I often use buried images in my paintings hidden under luminous layers of pigment. A subtle curve here or a nuance of color there might serve as a reminder of past thoughts and ideas.

I'm interested in the expressive handling of paint that reveals an exuberance and vitality of the creative act in my facture.

There are references to Cosmology….Quantum Physics ...Myths....Astronomical Phenomenon...Weather....Archaeology…Comparative Religion…Time and Cycles ….Anthropology…Consciousness ….Archetypes...Synchronicity...Synesthesia...Psycho-Navigation…Water…..Earth…..Fire…..Wind…..

I employ a menagerie of personal symbols and characters as well as allow the appearance of symbols
from other cultures that interest me.  I use dream imagery and snippets of stories or folk tales mixed
with intuitively invented shapes to create painterly, colorful, highly textured works that hopefully reveal
their meaning slowly and on many levels. I encourage the viewer to bring their own set of experiences
and interpretations to the work and aim to seduce them into multiple viewings and varied perceptions.

Curriculum Vitae
Education
M.F.A.    Major: Painting and Drawing; Minor: Sculpture - University of North Texas
B.F.A.     Major: Painting; Minor: Graphics, Art History - Stephen F. Austin State University
                    Graduated: summa cum laude
Graduate studies in painting University of Arkansas
Post graduate school classes in Metal Sculpture/Welding, Jewelry, and Educational
Strategies in Web-site design....
Creative Art Center of Dallas, Brookhaven College and The University of Dallas
Seminar in Art Education - University of North Texas

Workshops
Set Sand Bronze Casting - Stephen F. Austin State University
Texas/Oklahoma Iron Pour - Cameron University
Fused Glass workshop - Creative Art Center of Dallas

Internship   Fall  2010   
Earthship Sustainable Architecture
Global Model Home Project
Big Timber, Montana

Professional Experience  - Teaching
2013-2015  Fine Arts Teacher, Christ The King Catholic School  Dallas, Texas, Upper School Art
1999-2010  Fine Arts Instructor, Bishop Lynch High School Dallas, Texas, Adjunct Faculty Instructor
                     Eastfield College, Mesquite, Texas, Dual enrollment classes: Painting and Drawing I and II, Sculpture I and II, Introduction to Art  Design/Art History,                         Portfolio Presentation Class
2003-2015  Faculty - Summer Enrichment program   DECATS, (Debusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Students), Taught: Painting, Sculpture, and                         Set Design
1983-1987  Teaching Fellowship   University Of North Texas, Teacher of Record (course content, lectures, and grading), Drawing I, Drawing II, Figure Drawing I &                         II

Professional Experience
2010-2014  Michael McKenzie Studio, FM 1641 Talty, Texas, Fine Art painting and sculpture
2011-2013  Pinot's Palette, Painting instructor in the Paint and Sip industry
1990- 1999 Have Brush will Travel, Artist/Painter – Murals, Faux Finish, Furniture Design, Welded Steel, Bronze Casting, Wood Carving, Wallpaper, Custom                                 Painted Floors and Interiors.
1988-1990  An Affair to Remember, Artist/Designer Special Events Firm, Painted Sets and Props, Designed Neon Sculpture, Lighting Design
                        Highlight events: Del Coronado Hotel San Diego 100 year anniversary event
                        Super Bowl Media Party
                        La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art Beaux Arts Ball
                        Republican National Convention- New Orleans G.H.W. Bush event
1988-1990  500x Gallery Board Vice President, Alternative gallery space in Dallas, TX curator, installation, wrote press release, organized openings
1986-1987  American Art and Frame (Publishing Division) Production artist worked with Art Department producing a variety of large scale two and three-                                    dimensional art work for commercial galleries in Boston, Miami and Dallas. Publication Research and Development

Exhibition Record (*Solo Shows)
2015  Chaos!!! 2015 small works Ro2 Gallery, Dallas, TX
           Listen: to the songs of the times group show at The Small Gallery, Dallas, TX
           White Linen at Times Ten Cellars auction event to benefit homeless solutions at The Bridge
           125 Plano Art Association 10th Annual Juried Show The Arts Gallery, Collin College Spring Creek Campus
           Sincerely Yours art postcard exhibit at Slant Gallery, Dallas, TX
2014  24 Hours in Creative Motion, Nerv Gallery, Dallas, TX
           Art Con X art auction to benefit Dallas Arts Organizations
           Song... a music inspired exhibit The Small Gallery, Dallas, TX
           Compulsions, Slant Gallery, Dallas, TX
2013  This is What I Think: An Opinionated Art Exhibit, Bath House Cultural Center, Dallas, TX
           Frayed Elements Surface Tension and Eye Candy, Cohn Drennan Contemporary, Dallas, TX
           White Linen at Times Ten Cellars, auction event to benefit homeless solutions at The Bridge
2012  Hot-N-Sweaty 500X Gallery
2011  125 Plano Art Association 6th Annual Juried Show, The Arts Gallery, Collin College Spring Creek Campus
2000  *Two Dog Years A 14 year survey of Painting and Sculpture, ROCA Gallery, Room of Contemporary Art, Irving, TX July 28-September 29, 2000
1999  *Art Salad Al Fresco evenings of Dance, Theater, and Visual Art. Paintings and Sculpture April 31- March 1, 1999 Addison Theatre Centre Lobby Addison,                 TX
           *20 X 500 Views from a Dallas Warehouse 20th Anniversary Show 500X Gallery "catalogue" The Art Center of Waco Nov 12, 1998- January 10, 1999,                         Richland College, Dallas Oct 14- Nov 6, 1998, 500X Gallery, Dallas Sept 12- Oct 11, 1998
           *Michael McKenzie Recent Paintings curator: Kevin Curry, Half Price Books Gallery Lincoln Center, Arlington TX
1998  *Selected Works paintings Curator Glenn Nerwin of NRH Gallery, GTE Corporate Headquarters Irving, TX
1997  *Michael McKenzie Recent Paintings and Sculpture NRH Gallery Tarrant County, TX
           *M.A.C. Member's Exhibition group show McKinney Avenue Contemporary Dallas, TX
1996   Annual Art Show Dallas Public Library (Lakewood) "Best of Show" jurors Barney Delabano and Murray Smither
1994  Exquisite Corpse Exhibit with Frank Brown and D.M.A. Brown M.A.C. (McKinney Ave. Contemporary) Dallas, TX
1990  15 from 500 group show 500X Gallery Dallas, TX
           Pivotal Signals group show curator Kevin Curry, Hickory Street Annex, Dallas, TX
1989  A Family of Artists to benefit Downtown Family Shelter 500X Gallery Dallas, TX
           Michael McKenzie/ Mike Kennedy two man show 500X Gallery Dallas, TX
           *Song of the Psyche Suite one man show 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
1988   Early Works for Late Shoppers (not a starving artist sale) 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
            Art Quake '88! La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla, CA
1987  Distinctive Vision II curated by Kevin Curry and Murray Camp Alternate Gallery Dallas, TX
1986  Song of the Psyche M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, University of North Texas Gallery, Denton, TX
1985  Day of the Dead National Invitational Juried by Jack Mims, Cameron University Art Gallery Lawton, OK
           Graduate Painting Exhibit, Union Gallery group show, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
           Voertman Show, juried by Sue Graze, University of North Texas Gallery, Denton, TX
           Texas Sculpture Symposium Exhibition, Connemarra Conservancy, Plano, TX May 3- June 24
1984  Great Buffalo Show National Invitational juried by Dave Hickey, Cameron University Art Gallery, Lawton, OK
           Counterpoint three man show, Union Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
           Voertman Show juried by Murray Smither, University of North Texas gallery, Denton, TX
           New Visions Group show, Union Gallery, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
1983  Lots of Work open invitational 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
           Reflections group show Fine Arts Gallery, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas


Ro2 Art Gallery  |(214) 406-8819​| 2606 Bataan St.,  Dallas, Texas 75212 

Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 12 - 5 PM 

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  • ARTISTS
  • EXHIBITIONS
    • UPCOMING
    • CURRENT
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