When Michael Kalish reimagines an abused license plate or a vintage fender of a sun-faded farm truck, he transforms these discarded materials into striking art. His works are masterful while endearingly mindful, with a wink to Pop art masters such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. He raises repurposing to a culturally and socially conscious new level.
Kalish was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1973. He later attended the University of Rhode Island and Kennesaw State University in Georgia, majoring in psychology and minoring in art. After finishing school, he realized that if he wanted a career in art, he would have to do something to stand out. He decided to select a unique medium that would grab the attention of curators and the public.
He stumbled upon an old license plate in a junkyard, which sparked his interest. The color, texture and reflective shine drew him in, and he began to search for more. The first piece he created with the license plates was an American flag, which was exhibited by a small gallery. In 1996, he made a series of license plate portraits of several U.S. presidents, which were displayed in the windows of the Barney’s department store in New York City.
Kalish relocated to Los Angeles, where he continues to work with salvaged metal objects, fashioning them into beautiful roses, bowls of fruit, pop icon portraits and abstract pieces. His Raise the Caliber monumental public work — made of reclaimed guns — garnered high praise for its statement against violence. In 2017, his Art of Finding Love series of interactive abstract sculptures toured various outdoor locations in California.
On 1stDibs, find Michael Kalish’s sculptures, paintings, mixed media and more.
Price Upon Request
Vase of Roses - Mirrored Stainless 60
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a signed and numbered limited edition of 10. It is a stunning three dimensional sculpture made from layered laser cut chromed stainless steel with spaces giving it a beautif...
Stainless Steel
Price Upon Request
Geisha
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a signed and numbered limited edition of 18. Commission Only, lead time is apx. 6 weeks. This dimensional wall sculpture is created with layered laser cut aluminum pieces ei...
Metal
Price Upon Request
The Art of Finding Love vertical - red and chrome
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stunning sculpture standing at just over seven feet tall is on a swivel base. It is quite an engineering feat to create each sculpture. This sculpture can go indoors or outdoors as well. The title "The Art of Finding Love" is because you can look at all sides of this sculpture and it looks like a beautiful abstract sculpture until you get to one vantage point where LOVE comes into focus. Just like the art of finding Love in life. All sides and angles of this sculpture are surfaced with chrome panels except for the one side that spells out the word LOVE, which is surfaced with bright red panels. Commission only, limited edition of 10, editions 2 - 10 available, 8-10 week lead time to create. Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed mixed-media artist based in Los Angeles. His passion for metal started with vintage car parts and license plates and evolved to more refined laser cut aluminum and mirrored stainless steel sculptures, with references to American culture. In his most daring and bold expression of the force of nature known as love, the renowned sculptor unveiled his own artistic sonnet in sculpture form – "THE ART OF FINDING LOVE", a 20 foot x 6 foot x 6 foot interactive sculpture...
Steel
Garden Party - Mixed Media Sculptural Artwork
By Kristina Fjellman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kristina Fjellman, a Minnesota-based visual artist and performer, seamlessly blends sculpture and performance art in her captivating work. With exhib...
Steel, Wire
Ivory Gold - Mixed Media Sculptural Artwork
By Kristina Fjellman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kristina Fjellman, a Minnesota-based visual artist and performer, seamlessly blends sculpture and performance art in her captivating work. With exhib...
Steel, Wire
Cumulus - Mixed Media Abstract Sculptural Artwork
By Kristina Fjellman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kristina Fjellman, a Minnesota-based visual artist and performer, seamlessly blends sculpture and performance art in her captivating work. She has garnered recognition with exhibitio...
Steel
$530
H 17 in W 13 in D 2 in
Natural / Unnatural L - Mixed Media Sculptural Artwork
By Kristina Fjellman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Kristina Fjellman, a Minnesota-based visual artist and performer, seamlessly blends sculpture and performance art in her captivating work. She has ga...
Steel
Inclusion
By Mark Leichliter
Located in Loveland, CO
"Inclusion" by Mark Leichliter Abstract Sculpture 24x11x7" Stainless Steel Brushed and Powder Coated 1/10 ABOUT THE ARTIST: I was born in Loveland, Colorado and now reside in near...
Stainless Steel
$1,275
H 24 in W 36 in
Morning Dew - Original Calm Soft Tone Abstract Blue Landscape Painting on Canvas
By Amber Goldhammer
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles artist Amber Goldhammer paints dramatic abstract compositions in acrylic on canvas featuring energetic brushstrokes. Goldhammer uses her contemporary paintings to express...
Canvas, Latex, Mixed Media, Spray Paint, Acrylic
Pas de Deux, 88" tall stainless steel sculpture
By Mark Leichliter
Located in Loveland, CO
"Pas de Deux" by Mark Leichliter Abstract Sculpture 88x22x10 Stainless Steel signed and numbered3/10 Shipping price includes the custom packing necessary ...
Stainless Steel
$2,151
H 59.85 in W 16.54 in
Velvet, Canvas 3D - Contemporary Space Object, Woven Sculptural Artwork
By Marta Pokojowczyk
Located in Salzburg, AT
Canvas 3D ‘Velvet’ 2016 Linen yarn, textile stripe, stainless steel hanger; size of the textile: 155 x 64 cm (128 cm circuit), Canvases 3D are decorative fabrics entirely designed ...
Stainless Steel
$7,560
H 74.81 in W 43.31 in D 17.72 in
Untitled 03 - Black, Mixed Media, 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract
By Zsolt Berszán
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Untitled 03, 2016 Mixed media on metal sheet Signed on reverse 70,8 H × 39,4 W x 12,6 D in 180 H × 100 W x 32 D cm Berszán’s black silicon structures arise through a process of etch...
Metal
$250
H 23 in W 2.5 in
Adorning Links 4: Digital Print on Acrylic & Stainless Steel Sculpture
By Roxana Azar
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Adorning Links 4" is an original piece by Roxana Azar made from digital print on acrylic, stainless steel. This pieces measures 23" x 2.5"w and comes with a signed Certificate of Au...
Stainless Steel
Contrapposto
By Mark Leichliter
Located in Loveland, CO
"Conrapposto" by Mark Leichliter Abstract Sculpture 24x12x5" Stainless Steel 1/10 ABOUT THE ARTIST: I was born in Loveland, Colorado and now reside in nearby Fort Collins. The nat...
Stainless Steel
$6,400
H 21.25 in W 19.75 in D 2.25 in
"Pojagi Construction I" Jin-Sook So, Contemporary Korean mixed media artwork
By Jin-Sook So
Located in Wilton, CT
This abstract geometric mixed media piece was done by fiber artist, Jin-Sook So (b. 1950, Korea). So grew up in Seoul, Korea where she received a master's degree in textile art, afte...
Metal, Silver, Steel, Gold Leaf
Route 66
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Route 66", mixed media metal wall sculpture — 32 x 32 x 3 inches. This is a mixed media metal wall sculpture made of vintage car parts and enamel on ste...
Enamel, Steel
Vintage Rose on Red
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Vintage Rose on Red", mixed media metal wall sculpture — 32 x 32 x 8 inches — 2008. This is a mixed media metal wall sculpture made of aluminum, enamel and vintage car parts in red, white and blue. Kalish makes use of the iconic tailgate from a vintage Chevy...
Aluminum, Enamel, Metal
Ode to Lichtenstein - Liberty
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Ode to Lichtenstein - Liberty", mixed media metal wall sculpture — 55 x 36 x 1.5 inches — 2008. Lichtenstein meets Michael Kalish. This is a mixed media metal wall sculpture made...
Enamel, Metal, Steel