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Michael Van Zeyl
Silverstone Yellow Jasmine - Original Oil Painting of Woman and Floating Flowers

2017

About the Item

ARTIST STATEMENT I'm currently working with figures and portraits and combine human forms with botanicals to explore our relationship with natural elements. Capturing the movement of the figure or an expression of a living soul presents endless possibilities and inspiration enabling me to blend with different themes. I've studied classical methods of oil painting with a focus on the 17th century Dutch Masters. The subjects I am drawn to are individuals with character, athletic figures and blooming floral arrangements with elegance and ethereal beauty. The reference for my work comes from my direct observation of natural day light in my north light studio illuminating and blanketing the form of my subjects. I am fascinated and challenged by the process of transforming a flat, blank canvas into the illusion of dimensional form, atmosphere and mood. That process is usually well thought out but sometimes painted direct and use intuition to complete my idea. Both of these methods present challenges but each way fills the void of the other and opens up the possibility of new visual ideas to meet my objective. BIOGRAPHY For Michael Van Zeyl, portraiture is much more than a one-sided translation of the artist’s point of view taking form in a subject. It’s an engaging visual dialogue that renders a soul in light, shadow and pigment, continuing the conversation for future generations to appreciate. While subtle observation and technical skill are only part of Michael’s gift, his experience has honed his craft to the highest standard. His talents were apparent by age seven and he spent subsequent decades mastering a wide range of painting techniques. In particular, 17th century Dutch and 19th century impressionist styles have resonated with him and surfaced in his own works. His formal training began at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, continuing on at Chicago’s Historic Palette & Chisel Academy and the Art Students League in New York, where he studied with the most accomplished artists who also paint directly from life under natural light. Michael is currently a faculty and board member at the Palette & Chisel and has been the club’s most popular instructor for several years. Michael’s work is already appreciated in many public and private collections, such as the United States District Court, University of Chicago, DePaul University School of Law, Chicago Theological Seminary and American Hotel Register. He has received awards from the Portrait Society of America, The Artists Guild, the Oil Painters of America and the 2014 recipient of the Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists. EDUCATION 1987-1990 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL 1999-2000 American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL - Life Drawing & Oil Painting Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL - Painting & Life Drawing Art Students League, New York, NY - Painting EXHIBITIONS 2017 “Anne Harris: The Mind's I” Ed Paschke Art Center, Chicago, IL Curated by Anne Harris 2017 “Sight Unseen” Abend Gallery, Denver, CO Curated by Alia EL-Bermani 2017 “Layerd” Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL Curated by Sergio Gomez 2016 “Chévere”, Sirona Fine Art, Hallandale Beach, FL Curated by Didi Menendez & Sergio Gomez 2016 “In Full Bloom” Exhibition, Portraits, Inc. New York, NY and Birmingham, AL 2016 “Contemporary Figuration”, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO. Curated by Davide Ethridge 2016 Oil Painters of America National Juried Show, Dallas, TX 2016 “FREAK OUT! Chicago” Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL Curated by Didi Menedez & Sergio Gomez 2016 “Art Renewal Center Salon Exhibition”, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY 2015 “International ARC (Art Renewal Center) Salon Exhibition”, MEAM, Barcelona, Spain 2015 “Contemporary Figuration”, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO. Curated by Davide Ethridge 2015 “Dispatches from Abend”, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO. Curated by David Ethridge 2015 Oil Painters of America National Juried Show, St. Augustine, FL 2014 Oil Painters of America National Juried Show, Bennington, VT 2014 The Artists Guild Show, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2013 Scottsdale Salon, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2013 Art of Human Rights, Chicago, IL 2013 International Beethoven Project, Love, Chicago, IL. Curated By Catinca Tabacaru 2013 Solo Show, Gallery 180, Chicago, IL 2012 Art of Human Rights, Chicago, IL Curated By Chuck Gniech 2012 Scottsdale Salon, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2011 Scottsdale Salon, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2010 Solo Show, Cook County Building, Chicago, IL 2008 Solo Show, Ebert Studios, Oak Park, IL 2006 Solo Show, Stillwater Arts Guild, Stillwater, MN 2006 Three Visions Show, Palette & Chisel Academy, Chicago, IL AWARDS, HONORS AND PUBLICATIONS 2017 Palette & Chisel Academy - Annual Gold Medal Show - Gold Medal & Peoples Choice 2016 PoetsArtists Magazine, Issue #79 Figurative Painters 2016 Juror for the Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, IL 2015 PoetsArtists Magazine, Issue #65 Heightened Perceptions, Cover image for collectors edition, Curated by John Seed 2015 District 230 Foundation Legacy Hall Inductee 2014 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists 2014 The Artists Guild Show - Legacy Gallery - Silver Medal 2013 The United States District Court - Commission to paint Judge J.P. Stadtmueller of the Eastern District of Wisconsin 2011 Jameson Whiskey ad campaign - Commission to paint John Jameson for Mathematics concept 2010 American Artist Studios Magazine - 6-page editorial spread 2010 Cook County Treasurer’s Office - Artistic Award of Excellence 2008 American Artist Magazine - 8-page editorial spread 2006 Palette & Chisel Academy - Annual Gold Medal Show - 1st Place Gold Medal and People’s Choice 2006 Portrait Society of American - Self Portrait Competition - Honorable Mention 2005 Palette & Chisel Academy - Annual Gold Medal Show - Peoples Choice 2005 American Artist Magazine - Annual Competition Still Life Finalist 2004 Palette & Chisel Academy - Annual Gold Medal Show - 1st Place Gold Medal and People’s Choice 2004 Portrait Society of Atlanta - Spring Juried Exhibition - 1st Place Artists’ Choice and 2nd Place Juried Competition ART COLLECTIONS University of Chicago Divinity School United States District Court, Milwaukee, WI Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasem Al Thani Palace, Doha, Qatar Mr. and Mrs. Richard Driehaus Mrs. Kara Lysandra Ross University of Chicago Rush University Medial Center DePaul University School of Law Chicago Chicago Theological Seminary American Hotel Register
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