Statement:

 

In much of his work, Mapes explores ways to advance the scientific metaphor that has become proprietary to his work.  Referencing forensic, entomological, and biological sciences through shared materials and compositional conventions, Mapes encourages a reading of the work that is informed by a pseudo-scientific framework with artistic intention.  As the curator Brian Hannon wrote,  “His unique appropriation of traditional ideas on portraiture and taxonomy convey the inherent tension between a methodical objectivity and an unavoidable psychological subjectivity.” Mapes applies his unique form of classifying and organizing content to these dimensional collages, which seem equal part art and scientific specimens.

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Michael Mapes​ - CV

Mapes holds a BFA and MFA from the University of Illinois. He lives and works in the greater New York area, USA.

1962: born in Fort Knox, KY

1984: BFA from the University of Illinois

1991-1992: MFA from the University of Illinois

SOLO EXHIBITS

• Richland College, Decatur, IL 2008

• FlexSpace, Urbana, IL 2008

• Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL 2009

• Schoolhouse Gallery, North Salem, NY 2013

• "Anatomy of the Muse", Opera Gallery, Hong Kong 2015

• "Dutch Glory", NL=US, Rotterdam 2015

• Untitled, Krause Gallery 2017

GROUP EXHIBITS

• Terrible Twos - Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ 2011

• Outsiders & Objects - Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ 2011

• We Find Our Way - Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ 2012

• Scope, Miami, FL 2012

• Victorious, Chelsea NYC 2013

• Raw Art, Rotterdam NL 2013

• Scope, NYC 2013

• KunstRAI, Amsterdam NL 2013

• “Face to Face, Wall to Wall”, Yellowstone Art Museum,

Billings, MT 2014

• Ampelhaus, Berlin 2014

• "Cut-Copy-Paste", Beers Contemporary, London 2014

• "Revisiting the Golden Age", Pulchri Studio, The Hague, The Netherlands 2014

• "Art in Embassies", The Hague, The Netherlands 2014 - 2017

• "Realisme", Amsterdam NL 2015

• Art Miami, NYC 2015

• Context, Miami 2015

• ArtNY, NYC 2016

• Art The Hague, The Hague, NL, 2017

SELECTED COMMISSIONS

• New York Times, Sunday Magazine, 2015

• Holland America Line, Koningsdam ship, 2016

• Royal Caribbean, Harmony of the Seas ship, 2016

LECTURES

• Illinois Wesleyan University, 2009

• SUNY New Paltz, visiting artist lecture series, 2016