Thanks to Norbert Marszalek for asking me to write an essay to answer the big question What is Painting? in his on going spotlight on painters and their thoughts. My essay can be found here https://whatispainting.com/michael-k-paxton/
Exhibition Card for Raw Reckoning UIMA Chicago →
Here is the front of the card for my one-person exhibition Raw Reckoning that opens June 7th and runs to August 4th at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago.
Information on Raw Reckoning Opening and Exhibition →
Opening Reception: 6-9pm, June 7th, 2019
On display from June 7th-August 4th, 2019
Raw Reckoning is veteran Chicago artist Michael K. Paxton’s one-person exhibition of large-scale paintings and works on paper that derive their structure from the study of slide sections of the effect of black lung disease on coalminers. Paxton, a sixth generation West Virginian creates pillar size fields of chalk, charcoal, gesso and acrylic on raw canvas that embrace this ongoing devastation from coal in an effort to point to a place and people not heard from often in contemporary art. Through a well ingrained working process of size and materials, the open-ended approach of how each painting is developed produces a colorful and awkward work of aggressive mark making that refuses to stand still. Pushing hard against expectations an otherness surrounds his work as he looks for the exact point where his bone deep Appalachian heritage can carve out a place for a heart’s desire to speak of something important, personal and yet as common as dirt.
Pillars of Dust Reviewed →
Paul Krainak, artist, educator and writer wrote a thoughtful review of “Pillars of Dust” for his Inland Art column in the October 2018 issue of the Community Word published in Peoria, IL.
Pillars of Dust Opens at Heuser Art Center
The one-person exhibition “Pillars of Dust” opened September 28th at the Heuser Art Center of Bradley University, peoria, IL. These large-scale paintings and works on paper will be on display until November 6, 2018.
Show Card for Pillars of Dust
Here is the show card for the one-person exhibition “Pillars of Dust”
Pillars of Dust Links
“Pillars of Dust” a one-person exhibition of large-scale paintings and works on paper will be presented at the Heuser Art Center Gallery of Bradley University, Peoria, IL. The show opens September 28, 2018 and runs through November 6, 2018. The documentary film “Work at Hand” will be screened before the opening and Michael will also meet with graduate painting students during the day. Partially Funded by both the Illinois Arts Council and a Part-time Faculty Development Grant form Columbia College. Here are a couple of links to both Bradley University Art Department and Galleries websites. https://www.bradley.edu/academic/departments/art/news/story.dot?id=37a76887-d484-4487-b91e-f732d15201d0
http://art.bradley.edu/bug/2018/09/pillars-of-dust-michael-k-paxton/
Work at Hand Film to be Screened →
I am happy to announce that there will be a showing of the documentary film "Work At Hand" Friday, September 21, 2018 at 7:00 pm at the Wealthy Theater, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan. A discussion of the film with the filmmakers and artist will follow the screening.
"Pillars of Dust" One-Person Exhibition
I am pleased to announce that my one-person exhibition of large scale paintings and works on paper titled "Pillars of Dust" will open September 28th at the Heuser Art Center Gallery of Bradley University, Peoria, IL and run through November 6th. A planned showing of the documentary film titled "Work At Hand Michael K. Paxton" will also be screened. Shown is a studio snapshot of one of the works to be on included in the exhibition.
Artist Interview Published In Voyage Chicago →
As part of their Thought-Provokers Series Voyage Chicago has just published an artist interview with me that featured images of my most recent work plus this photo taken by Jeanne Nemcek of me standing in front of my latest large-scale painting in progress.
Faculty Works Exhibition
I am pleased to be in included in the Faculty Works exhibition that opens August 22, 2017 at the Hokin Gallery of Columbia College Chicago. Featuring work completed in 2016 I will have on view Cobbtown 72 in. x108 in., chalk, charcoal, gesso on prepared raw canvas.
