SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017 IN EXILE, NAMBA Performing Arts Space, Ventura, CA
2014 OBSERVATIONS EN LUZ, Rio Mississippi Project Space, Mexico City DF, MX
2013 SOY AQUI, Fuente Cibelles Café, Mexico City DF, MX
2012 PUNTO DE REUNION, El Viking Gallery, Mexico City DF, MX

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2017 ART WALK, Ventura County Museum, Ventura, CA
2017 DEAR PRESIDENT, South Bay Contemporary, San Pedro, CA
2016 ART WALK, Bell Arts Factory, Ventura, CA
2016 COLOR, Providence Art Club, Providence, RI

RESIDENCIES

2017 H Gallery + Studios, Ventura, CA
2016-17 Bell Arts Factory, Ventura, CA
2015 Harms Art Colony, Grand Junction, CO
2015 Ouzo, Mexico City DF, MX

EDUCATION

2005-2006 Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
Master of Arts -Technology

1994-1998 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Drawing and Printmaking

CONTINUED EDUCATION

2013-14 Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA
Master of Fine Arts -18 credits in Graphic Design

2009-10 Academy of Art, San Francisco, CA
Master of Fine Arts -18 credits in Interactive Media Design

Micheal Swank b.1970

Micheal Swank graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a BFA - Printmaking and Design in 1998. In his design career he has been Art Director for California Tan (packaging), San Francisco Examiner (Hearst), Miller Huber Marketing, Joie de Vivre Hotels, S.F. Business Times, Disney, Dance Magazine, Pasadena Weekly, and others. 

Micheal began to teach Graphic and Web Design in 2001 and decided to pursue teaching as a full time profession. In 2006, he completed his Masters in Technology from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA. He led within the design education community as Academic Department Director, Graphic Design and Web Design Interactive Medias at the Art Institute of California Inland Empire, Art Institute of California San Francisco, and Associate Dean of Academics Art Institute of Houston - North. 

In January 2012, after a significant car accident caused him to reflect on his dreams to pursue his art, he left his position as Dean to live abroad, travel, learn, create, and ignite his studio art. He has since lived in China, Mexico City DF, spent two years focussing his practice in Ventura, CA and in 2018 reestablished his studio in Mexico City DF. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

I’m just scratching the surface. It’s all about staying healthy and taking the time to push this. It started in 2001 when I first came to Mexico City. I couldn’t stop taking photos of all the macro surfaces of colors and textures. Everything collided for me in those moments and I promised myself I would live here one day and make art. I went home and painted a mural in my bay window after years of anorexic art making. 

It took what it took to get here. A year ago when I moved back to CDMX I came hell-bent on the goal of doing what I finished today in the studio. It took what it took to get here. This spot. Where the mental washed away and I realized I could do this. The breakthrough came in June after a rainstorm. I went to take a photo of this one spot and the paper had been dampened. I saw the layers below. I peeled some away. I never left my house without a spray bottle and the camera again.

REPRESENTATION

2017 - Present Dab Art Co., Los Angeles, CA