 | Download PDF |
Biography
Michael Cutlip's paintings, with their highly individual style and color palette, have become a recognizable force in the Bay Area art scene. In the words of essayist Paul Liberatore, "Cutlip is like a jazz musician - he improvises, painting variations on a theme in a style that is distinctly his own. His fans can tell a Michael Cutlip painting just as jazz buffs can identify Miles Davis or John Coltrane after the first few notes."
While studying business at Cal State in Hayward, Michael took an art class to fulfill a requirement. The instructor saw something in Michael and encouraged his talent. Cutlip changed his direction, got his degree in art, and dedicated himself to the pursuit of, as he puts it "that one fantastic painting." There have been many along the way, and Cutlip has shown his work in galleries across the United States, Canada, and Japan.
Michael has that elusive quality that artist's strive for: he can change and respond to a painting in the middle of the process while constantly challenging the work by inserting something unexpected and improbable. It is in resolving these disparate elements over and over again that he has honed his craft and found his own very clear voice. His work is consistent and finely realized and yet he is full of surprises, incorporating the unexpected at every turn.
Artist Statement
I picked up a paint brush for the first time a little over ten years ago. I have continued to pick one up just about every day since. While those exciting, first-time discoveries are not as commonplace as they were in the early days, I still search for those fresh moments. And when encountered they are every bit as thrilling, if not more.
The process is essential. I work in the moment. In my experience, a planned painting is a failed painting. The painting must be free to wander. The best works are those that seem to simply happen. My materials are vast. I don't like limitations. Anything goes in my studio...if it makes a mark, I will use it.
I draw inspiration from most that is naive. Children are, hands down, the best artists. Their freedom and uninhibited nature taps into that certain energy which all mature artists seek their entire lives. Urban nature, street art, things old, vintage, warn-out, discarded, natural beauty in its abstract form and simply the moment, the moment of creation - where one move inspires the next. One has to only open his eyes...beauty is everywhere.
Resume
Born
January 1974
Belmont, California
Education
1992-1999
Foothill College
CA State University Hayward
BA Studio Art
Minor Business Administration
Recent Shows
Melanee Cooper Gallery / Chicago Ill. / March 2007 / Two- Person Show with Artist Tracy Adams
Solo and Two-Person Shows
Swarm Gallery / Oakland Ca / November 2006
Bryant St. Gallery, Palo Alto, Ca/ February 2006/ Solo Show
Triton Museum of Art "New California Artist Series", Santa Clara, CA/ Oct.-Dec. 2005/ Solo Show
Sense Gallery, Menlo Atherton, Ca/ September 2004/ Solo Show
Bryant St. Gallery, Palo Alto, Ca/ February 2004/ Solo Show
1212 Gallery, Burlingame Ca / October 2003/ Two Person Show
Bryant St. Gallery, Palo Alto, Ca./ February 2003/ Solo Show
Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto Ca./ February 2002 / Two Person Show
Bryant St. Gallery, Palo Alto Ca./ February 2001/ Two Person Show
CSUH Student Gallery, Hayward Ca./ 1998 1999
Group Shows
Bridge Art Fair Miami 06/December ,2006/ Represented by Melanee Cooper Gallery (Chicago IL.)
Michael Martin Galleries / Art Auction benefiting MMG Foundation / San Francisco, Ca / Sep. 2006
SJICA / 26th Annual Fall Auction / San Jose, CA/Oct. 2006
SFMOMA / Art Auction 2006 / San Francisco, CA / May 2006
Morpeth Gallery / Spring Contemporary / Hopewell, NJ / May -June 2006
Julie Baker Fine Art / Get Small/ Nevada City, Ca / Dec. 2005
Wings School for autistic children /Fundraising Art Auction, /San Mateo, Ca/ Nov. 2005
SOMARTS Cultural Center / Rituals in the Journey of Life and Death, A day of the Dead Exhibition / San Francisco CA / Oct. 2005
Michael Martin Galleries / Art Auction benefiting MMG Foundation / San Francisco, Ca / Sep. 2005
SJIC / Monotype Marathon Art Auction/ San Jose Ca/ July 2005
Pro Arts Open Studios 2005-Group Exhibition / Oakland CA / May-June 2005
Museums of Los Gatos, Touch My heART Art Auction/ Los Gatos, CA/ Feb. 2005
Michael Martin Galleries(Art Auction benefiting MMG Foundation)/ San Francisco, Ca / Nov. 2004
Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA/ Aug.-Oct. 2004/ Permanent Collection Exhibit
" Wings School for autistic children" /Fundraising Art Auction, /San Mateo, Ca/ Nov. 2004
SJICA, 24th Annual Fall Auction, San Jose, CA/Oct. 2004
Julie Baker Fine Art "Lazy Days Group Exhibit"/ Grass Valley, Ca./ Aug.-Oct. 2004
SJICA, Monotype Marathon Art Auction/ San Jose Ca/ July 2004
Triton Museum of Art/ Annual Art Auction/ Santa Clara, CA/ May 15th, 2004
Art Auction-Sponsored by Bryant St. Gallery (proceeds to the Down Syndrome Foundation)/ Palo Alto, CA / May 13th, 2004
Red Ink Studios/Santana Row, San Jose Ca / December 2003
Sun Gallery, Columbarium(Dia De Los Muertos installation), Hayward Ca/ October 2003
SJICA, 23rd Annual Invitational Fall Auction, San Jose Ca / October 2003
Sense Gallery, Menlo Atherton, CA / Grand Opening Exhibition / June 2003
Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto Ca./ Summer Show/ August 2002
Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto Ca./ Symbols of Courage Show/October 2001
Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, Ca./ Five Gallery Artists/ July 2001
Green Shutter Gallery, Hayward Ca./ January 2001
San Mateo County Fair Fine Art Exhibition/ 1999 1998
CSUH Student Gallery, Hayward Ca./1999
CSUH Annual Juried Show, Hayward Ca./ 1999 1998 1997
Public Collections
Bloomingdales
Triton Museum of Art / Santa Clara, Ca
David & Lucile Packard Foundation/ Palo Alto, Ca
Benefit Cosmetics/ San Francisco, Ca
Sense Fine Art/ Woodside, Ca
Mondry Associates/ San Mateo, Ca
Lectures
Cal State University Hayward Art Dept./ Guest Lecturer/ Oct. 2004
Awards
New American Paintings / A juried competition in print, West Coast Edition / 2005
Alameda County Arts Commission Purchase Grant / Semi-Finalist / 2005
Recipient of the CSUH Solicitation Program Award/ 1998
San Mateo County Fair, Gold Award in Print Media/ 1998
Recipient of the University Art Center Award/ 1999
San Mateo County Fair, Honorable Mention in Print Media Award/ 1999
Burlingame Art Society Annual Juried Show, Honorable Mention/ 2000 |
