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
Ava
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This dimensional wall sculpture is created with layered laser cut aluminum pieces painted with enamel then mounted on a hand-shaped aluminum back panel painted and sprayed with a mat...
Metal, Enamel
$2,500
H 36 in W 36 in D 1.5 in
"Paris in Gold and Silver" Abstract French Haute Couture Oil Painting on Canvas
By Cindy Shaoul
Located in New York, NY
Exploring the purity of the feminine form and the drama of French haute couture, artist Cindy Shaoul creates a dialogue between the figurative and the abstract. Her spirited composit...
Silver, Gold Leaf
$1,000
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 1 in
"How to Explode Quietly" Surrealist Urban Street Art Mixed Media Painting
By Santiago Fuentes Bo
Located in New York, NY
Santiago Fuente Bo pieces are exceptionally high in detail, but as well are playful and thought provoking. He is influenced with the ever-changing idea of what home means. His consta...
Enamel
$800Sale Price|20% Off
H 14 in W 14 in D 1 in
"Hope & Tragedies" Surrealist Urban Street Art Mixed Media Painting on Wood
By Santiago Fuentes Bo
Located in New York, NY
Santiago Fuente Bo pieces are exceptionally high in detail, but as well are playful and thought provoking. He is influenced with the ever-changing idea of what home means. His consta...
Enamel
$4,000
H 72 in W 48 in D 1.5 in
"Recycling Post" (FRAMED) Abstract Painting 72 x 48 in by Yoram Katz
By Yoram Katz
Located in Culver City, CA
"Recycling Post" (FRAMED) Abstract Painting 72 x 48 in by Yoram Katz Medium: Used items, Enamel and Spray paint on Canvas Size framed: 73.5 x 49.5 in ABOUT THE ARTIST: Born in Is...
Enamel
$2,200
H 11 in W 14 in D 1 in
"LUCA" Abstract Painting 11" x 14" inch by Khoren Keshishyan
By Khoren Keshishyan
Located in Culver City, CA
"LUCA" Abstract Painting 11" x 14" inch by Khoren Keshishyan Medium: Mixed Media on Board Khoren Keshishyan is a celebrated American-Armenian painter and artist whose unique blend ...
Mixed Media, Board
$7,204
H 63.78 in W 44.89 in
Evanescence- 21st Century, Contemporary, Abstract, Oil Painting, Gold Leaf
By Chelsea Davine
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
Oil and gold leaf on canvas For centuries, artisans and artists have turned to gold leaf as a way to make their creations shimmer and shine. Also many contemporary artists continue ...
Gold Leaf
$38,275Sale Price|20% Off
H 64 in W 172 in D 2 in
'Russian Invasion' HUGE Original Painting on Canvas by Artist Fahri Aldin- 1950
By Fahri Aldin
Located in Belleville, CA
A Stunning, huge, Original painting on canvas by Canadian artist Fahri Aldin. This One of a Kind Masterpiece measures an impressive 64 inches in height and 172 inches wide or 163 x ...
Canvas, Paint, Coating, Varnish, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Acrylic
$7,000
H 28 in W 36 in
Whitehouse Kennedy - graphic pop-art, cultural America, gilded acrylic on canvas
By Viktor Mitic
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Whitehouse Kennedy inserts itself into dialogue with the pop celebrity style of Andy Warhol and the provocative juxtapositions of portrait and text by Barbara Kruger. Only this time ...
Gold Leaf
$10,000
H 50 in W 55 in D 1.5 in
"Happy Wife, Happy Life" Colorful Mixed Media Painting, Dogs and Flowers, Bright
By Lesley Anne Spowart
Located in Carmel, CA
Lesley Anne Spowart (American, born 1957) "Happy Wife, Happy Life" 2025 Acrylic paint and mixed media, stretcher bars Signed bottom right corner and verso. "Happy Wife, Happy Life" ...
Wire
$2,009
H 10.75 in W 9.53 in
Cosmos IV by Lumi Mizutani - Japanese style painting, flower, silver leaves
By Lumi Mizutani
Located in Paris, FR
Cosmos IV is a unique painting by contemporary artist Lumi Mizutani. The painting is made with pigments and silver leaves on Japanese cardboard, dimensions are 27.3 × 24.2 cm (10.7 ×...
Silver
$7,000
H 62 in W 40 in D 1.5 in
"Divinity"- Colorful Abstract/Figurative Mixed Media Painting
Located in Brooklyn, NY
John-Herbert was born in Miami and moved to New York city when he was 3 years old. As the son of a Filipno mother and bi-racial father, his multi-cultural roots at first felt like a ...
Enamel
$8,000
H 42 in W 24 in
Marc - graphic, portrait, pop-art style, cultural, acrylic painting on canvas
By Viktor Mitic
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Taking caricature portraiture to a new level, Viktor Mitic has portrayed 'Marc' in the guise of a zombified 1950s radio announcer. The bright blocks of co...
Gold Leaf
Ava
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This dimensional wall sculpture is created with layered laser cut aluminum pieces painted with enamel then mounted on a hand-shaped aluminum back panel painted and sprayed with a mat...
Metal, Enamel
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