Inspired by Abstract Expressionism and driven by deep curiosity, artist Michael Pauker has created an expansive oeuvre that is inclusive of abstract and figurative paintings, landscapes, sculptures, prints and collages constructed with scraps of aging historical documents, watercolor paints and found objects.
“As an artist, I am not a one-trick pony,” he has said. “Some artists find success doing one thing and stick just with it. But my curiosity is omnivorous. I’m driven by images I’ve never seen before, both abstract and figurative.”
Born in 1957 in New York, Pauker knew he wanted to be an artist from the age of 15. He earned his BFA from the State University of New York (SUNY), then in 1989, completed his MFA at Mills College (now Mills College at Northeastern University) in Oakland where he was awarded the City of Oakland Fellowship in Painting.
Since 1988, Pauker has lived and worked in the Bay Area, teaching art in various venues such as schools, colleges and institutions including the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, the state’s prison hospital, for several years. When he isn’t teaching, Pauker focuses on creating art — the mediums of which can change by the moment.
While he works in oil on canvas for most of his paintings, Pauker is also known for his “Miniature Collage” series. He has worked on this series for more than a decade. Other works include abstract drawings and figurative watercolors blended with collages of vintage paper, stamps and found objects — his Oesterreich II is an example of the latter.
Pauker has exhibited widely across the United States, Japan and Costa Rica, and his works are held in the public collections of many institutions including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
Find authentic Michael Pauker art on 1stDibs.
Multi-Color Abstract Expressionist Horizontal Landscape
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Bold multi-color abstract expressionist oil painting illustrating vivid colors of gold, magenta, teal and yellows by Michael Pauker (American, b. 1957). This high octane colorful hor...
Canvas, Oil
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
Artist's Dream VII - "The Talking Cure", Contemporary Surreal Self-Portrait
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
A contemporary surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957). Two figures appear in a surreal, dreamy beac...
Canvas, Oil
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
Artist's Dream VI - Frolicking on the Beach, Surreal Self-Portrait
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist as a nude figure on the beach in a dynamic pose by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957). Unsigned, b...
Oil, Canvas
Woman on the Beach - Expressive Contemporary Figure Painting in Oil
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Woman on the Beach - Expressive Contemporary Figure Painting in Oil Contemporary figurative landscape by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b. 1957.) A woman stands with her ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
"Artist's Dream IV" Reclined Figure on Beach, Contemporary Surreal Self-Portrait
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Dramatic contemporary surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957). The nude figure reclines in the fetal...
Canvas, Oil
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
"Artist's Dream V" Nude Painting Nudes, Surreal Figurative with Self-Portrait
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Contemporary surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist painting a figure, amongst several other figures in various poses in a dream-like beach setting by B...
Oil, Canvas
$1,150
Jungle Panorama, Contemporary Expressionist Horizontal Landscape with Trees
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
A lush, jungle setting bursting with plant life is depicted in panoramic view, in this horizontal botanical landscape by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b. 1957), c.1990s....
Canvas, Oil
Contemporary Abstract Colorfield Landscape in Cream & Green
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
A striking contemporary two-toned colorfield abstract by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b. 1957). A large neutral textured section in cream sits atop a wavy abstraction in...
Oil, Canvas
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Dracaena, Botanical Garden Plant Still-Life
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Fun and expressive botanical still-life painting of a Dracaena plant in front of a window by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957), 1976. The bright green leaves are depi...
Canvas, Oil
$3,360Sale Price|20% Off
Black and White Abstract Cityscape
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Large-scale oil painting by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b. 1957). A series of grids and swirls create and industrial feeling landscape, as if the viewer is looking out ...
Canvas, Oil, Stretcher Bars
$2,680Sale Price|20% Off
Artist's Dream - Nude Figure on Beach, Surreal Self-Portrait
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Large-scale surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist dreaming on a beach with his palette, with a group of figures in the distance by Bay Area artist Mich...
Canvas, Oil
$2,520Sale Price|20% Off
Artist's Dream VIII - Waking Up, Contemporary Surreal Self-Portrait on Beach
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Contemporary surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (American, b.1957). The reclining nude male...
Canvas, Oil
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
"Artist's Dream III", Surreal Figurative w Self-Portrait & Classical Sculpture
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Contemporary surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist at work with his palette, beside a classical sculpture bust with column by Bay Area artist Michael P...
Canvas, Oil
$2,920Sale Price|20% Off
Artist's Dream II - Figure Painting on Beach, Surreal Self-Portrait
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Large-scale surreal figurative landscape featuring a self-portrait of the artist at work with his palette, painting a sculpture of a nude figure on a beach by Bay Area artist Michael...
Canvas, Oil
$1,275
H 33 in W 27 in D 2 in
Vintage American Modernist Signed Abstract Expressionist Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
This mid-century abstract composition employs a dynamic interplay of geometric planes and gestural brushwork, rendered in a vibrant yet balanced palette of pastel pinks, acid yellow...
Canvas, Oil
$995
H 32 in W 37 in D 2 in
Vintage American Modernist Signed Abstract Expressionist Figural Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Vintage American modernist abstract expressionist figural painting. Oil on canvas. Framed. Signed.
Canvas, Oil
$34,438
H 30 in W 40 in D 1.5 in
Abstract Musician in Practice Room Original Painting by Contemporary Artist
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Abstract Musician in Practice Room Original Painting by Contemporary Artist An extremely rare early work from leading British Contemporary Artist, ...
Gesso, Canvas, Cotton, Paint, Varnish, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, ...
$3,512
H 39.38 in W 31.5 in D 1.97 in
Aqua Serenity - abstract representation of the human form - underwater painting
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Canvas, Oil
$1,033
H 5 in W 6.5 in D 1.75 in
Miniature Original Painting of Skaters at Central Park New York City in Sunshine
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Miniature Original Painting of Skaters at Central Park New York City in Sunshine by Contemporary British Artist, Angela Wakefield. Art measures 6.5 x 5 inches Unframed - Acrylic o...
Gesso, Canvas, Wood, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Board
$2,800
H 40 in W 30 in D 1.5 in
Danger Contemporary Representational Art Landscape Canadian artist Moody
By Marie Rioux
Located in Houston, TX
Danger is Contemporary Representational Art of a Canadian Landscape with a twist of Abstract. Gallery Wrapped. “Whatever my particular aim is, ...
Oil, Cotton Canvas
$1,950
H 48.04 in W 59.85 in D 1.19 in
Balance Too - Statement Minimalistic Abstract Conversation Gold Contrast Large
By Karnish Art
Located in Pretoria, Gauteng
Title: Balance Too Statement Minimalistic Abstract Conversation Gold Contrast Large BALANCE TOO is part of the series Expressions Too, that connects to the earth, ocean and sky... ...
Oil, Acrylic, Gesso, Canvas
$658
H 15.75 in W 15.75 in D 0.79 in
Cat Oil Painting on Canvas, Contemporary, 40x40 cm, 2024
By Elena Mardashova
Located in Roma, IT
'Cat' - Original oil painting on canvas 40 x 40 cm, 2024.
Oil, Canvas
$3,400
H 36 in W 36 in
Governador Oil Painting on Canvas, Contemporary, 21st Century, 36x36
By Evelyne Ballestra
Located in Miami, FL
Governador is a painting made by Evelyne Ballestra, a French contemporary artist. This red tons expressionist painting is inspired from an island near Panama, with its palm trees, vi...
Canvas, Oil
$2,686
H 20 in W 8 in D 1.75 in
Classic 1990's Yellow Taxi at Night & Grey Skyscrapers in New York City Street.
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Classic 1990's Yellow Taxi at Night & Grey Skyscrapers in New York City Street. Painting Study by British Cityscape Artist - a unique original from leading Contemporary Artist, A...
Gesso, Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
$8,636
H 39.38 in W 59.06 in D 0.79 in
Beach - Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting, Realism, Beach View, People
By Julita Malinowska
Located in Hallein, AT
Artodyssey "Julita Malinowska's paintings belong to those, which once seen - are never forgotten. The open spaces, sometimes cool and bright, at other times heavily saturated with co...
Canvas, Oil
$6,706
H 39.38 in W 47.25 in D 1.97 in
Autumn - Contemporary Impressionistic Painting of a Landscape
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Autumn 100 x 120 cm (not framed) oil on canvas On the pictures we also show you the artist receiving the flowers on our opening of this exhibition september 3th 2023 in our gallery. On an other picture you see the artist talking with collectors who purchase one of his works and gallery owner René Renders talking with other visitors in front of the painting. We show these pictures to give you an idea of the size and sphere of the paintings. About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know him. His studio is located "everywhere", or at least outside where this artist is inspired by the landscape. A special way of summarizing leads in his paintings to a very strong and simplified image. These works invite you to walk into the landscape and to keep looking. A book has been published about Frank Dekkers, which is included when purchasing a painting...
Cotton Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 48 in W 30 in D 1 in
Modern Urban Industrial Cubist Abstract Cityscape in Neutrals with Red
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Large-scale contemporary cubist abstract evoking an abstracted cityscape, with neutral geometric and linear forms punctuated by seven red accents, by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (...
Canvas, Oil
Abstract Landscape
By Michael Pauker
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful blue, yellow and green abstract expressionist landscape painting depicting a yellow barn surrounded by blue skies and green grass by Bay Area artist Michael Pauker (America...
Canvas, Oil