Original Art By Michelle Kurtz | Ugallery.com

artist statement

I am an abstract expressionist with twists and turns to my work. I currently reside in Salt Lake City, Utah, since last May. I have lived and worked artistically in Chicago and throughout Utah. I create artwork not only to display technicalities, form, line, etc., (actually I am not really concerned with the above, they are just a byproduct) but to solicit an emotional response from outside the art world as well as inside. I thrive on making an impact on society.

My current work stems from a particular “ah ha” moment. Before arriving at “that” moment, I worked in extreme charcoal/pencil realism. I became agitated and bored with it. Needing something that would stretch my creative self, I turned small quick sketches into LARGE pieces of abstract expressionism. I began using house paint for the quantity and low price, and now love it and still use it as my primary medium. After going with this style and creating a large body of work, the longing to push creativity was still strong. Then it happened! The magic statement, thrown at me by friends, family, and strangers… “I can’t even draw stick figures.” …gave me the “ah ha” moment! The ultimate test of creativity; how creative can I get with stick figures? I love this challenge, and equally as much as the “play” it has on society… i.e. anyone can do those…

Along with continuing to develop my own body of work, I am currently working with a band to create album covers and promotional artwork. I am also doing an art piece on a downtown billboard. In this work I continue to push my idea of “the ultimate stick figure.”

I earned a BFA with a teaching credential from Mesa State College in 2002. I am going to begin the MFA program at the University of Utah this fall where I received a scholarship. While attending Mesa State College, I had three pieces of artwork accepted to the Mesa State literary review. I have participated in solo and group shows in St. George, Utah, Chicago, and New York. While in St. George, I participated in art in the park and was asked to join the 4th of July art festival by one of the creators. While in Chicago, I worked as a live painting artist at music festivals. I have also been commissioned to do work for personal collections. Currently, I am excited to be represented by IAO projects, a gallery based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I hope to keep furthering my art career by creating work to stretch myself and the ideas that society does or does not have of art!