All the subjects my paintings and collages are pursuing the theme of portraiture. The challenge is to keep this traditional idea of subject and medium fresh and interesting. Attempting to do this without using the figure has opened vast amounts of compositional possibilities. Old masters consisting of Caravaggio, Van Eyck, and Rembrandt and tribal medicine man garb are some historical references in my work. With these influences in mind I aim at giving intuitively compiled patterns, textures and drapery, all created completely from my imagination, a sense of personality and delicateness. In the paintings and collages I approach the idea of symbolism by incorporating different types of accessories; a shoe may suggest a foot, a glove may suggest a hand, a jacket suggests the torso. Using these elements allows the subjects in my work to connect with the viewer and create a loose narrative. The paintings and collages are brightly colored and playful which makes them inviting and familiar while at the same time the work gives a feeling of being otherworldly and nervous. I am in continuous pursuit of finding a certain balance of mystery and magic in all my work.

-Michael Stillion

Education
MFA 2007, Indiana University Graduate School of Fine Arts – Bloomington, Indiana
BFA 2002, Minor in Art History, Columbus College of Art and Design – Columbus, Ohio

SOLO, GROUP, JURIED EXHIBITIONS AND LECTURES

2016
In The Belly Of A Whale, Linda Warren Projects, Chicago, Illinois – (Solo)
Losing My Edge, University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama – (Group)

2015
PORTRAIT AND THE PRIMORDIAL, Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, CA – (Group)
Now Here: Theoretical Landscapes, The Carnegie Gallery, Covington, Kentucky – (Group)
We Got Spirit, Yes We Do, Unity Gallery, Maharishi University, Fairfield, Iowa –(Group)
Blood, Milk, Sky and Gold- Mural, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio – (Solo)

2015
National Contemporary Painting Exhibition, Weatherhead Gallery, University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana – (Group)
Ghost In The Machine, Phyllis Weston Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio – (Solo)
Shall I tell you the secret of the whole world? Painting, Parody & Disguise, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio – (Group/Curator)
I Can’t Spell Group Without A You, Lovey Town, Madison, Wisconsin – (Group)
Weight of the Sky, Angela Meleca Gallery, Columbus, Ohio – (Two Person)

2013
repARTee, Phyllis Weston Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio – (Group)
Formica Forever, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio – (Group)
Paper Trail 2, Phyllis Weston Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio – (Group)
BZ&C: Bent, Zigzag and Crooked, Linda Warren Projects, Chicago, IL – (Solo)
1305 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Solo)

2012
Birke Gallery, Marshall University, Huntington, WV – (Two Person)
Paintings – Satellite Projects, Cincinnati, OH – (Solo)
Paintings – Caestecker Art Gallery, Ripon College, Ripon, WI – (Solo)

2011
MasterWorks, Vance Waddell Project Space, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)
NEXT art fair, represented by Linda Warren Gallery, Chicago, IL – (Solo)

2010
Zep Up, 1305 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Solo)
Artificial Hell, Backspace, Peoria, IL – (Group)
Linda Warren Gallery, Project Space, Chicago, IL – (Solo)
Young Painters Competition – Heistand Galleries, Miami University, Oxford, OH – (Group)
Carousel Kids – Museum Gallery/Gallery Museum, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)

2009
Partially Buoyed – CS 13 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Solo)
We Saw The Wrecked – Bry Gallery, University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA – (Solo)
Top 100 Secret Artists – Artworks Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)
Wheels Of Fire – Roswell Museum and Arts Center, Roswell, NM – (Solo)
Hit List – 1305 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)
No Gallery Left Behind – Reed Gallery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)
New Narratives – Riffe Gallery, Columbus, OH – (Group)
Artist Lecture: Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, New Mexico
The Stars In The Sky Are Still Boss – Reed Gallery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)

2008
Exposed – Artworks Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)
Avatar Atavistic – Vaudeville Park, Brooklyn, NY – (Group)
Dry Heat – Runnels Gallery, Portales, NM – (Group)
Summer Sweat – ArtWorks Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)
Introducing Mr. Hammerface – installation, Project Space – Reed Gallery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH – (Solo)
Hypothetics- New Drawings and Paintings by Eric Johnston, Michael Stillion, Justin Varner – Art Hospital, Bloomington, IN – (Group)
O.K., Engine 22 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Group)

2007
Man-Made, 1305 Gallery, Cincinnati, OH – (Solo)
They Can Walk Too, Sofa Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN – (Solo)
Refresh, SoFA Gallery, Bloomington, IN – (Group)
Masters of Fine Arts Group Painting Exhibition, SoFA Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN – (Group)

2006
A Drawing Show – Fuller Project, McCalla Gallery, Bloomington, IN – (Group)
Emerging Talent, Prima Gallery, Bloomington, IN – (Group)
Masters of Fine Arts Group Painting Exhibition, SoFA Gallery, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN – (Group)

2005
Artist Lecture: A Conversation with Michael Stillion- Columbus Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, OH

2003
Realism 2003 – Cultural Arts Center, Parkersburg, WV – (Juried) – (Group)

2002
Michael Stillion – Recent Paintings, Grove City Courthouse, Grove City, OH – (Solo)
Michael Stillion – Recent Paintings, Canzani Thesis Gallery, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH – (Solo)

2001
CCAD Alumni and Student Exhibition, Acock Gallery, Columbus, Ohio and Hillel Center, Ohio State University Campus, Columbus, OH – (Juried) – (Group)
New Arrangements – Group Show, ROY G BIV Gallery, Columbus OH – (Group)

2000
Ohio Art League Fall Exhibition, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH – Juror: David Reed – (Group)

AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES

2015
Ohio Arts Council Grant, Individual Excellence Award

2012
Nominee, Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award

2010
Finalist for the 11th Annual Miami University Young Painters Competition for the William and Dorothy Yeck Award

2008-2009
Roswell Artist-In-Residence (R.A.I.R.), One Year, Full Fellowship – Roswell, NM

2008
Joan Mitchell Full Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center – Johnson, VT
Ohio Arts Council Grant, Individual Excellence Award

REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

Matt Peiken, Contemporary Arts Center leader envisions a vibrant public space for its ground-floor renovation, WCPO, Cincinnati, January 09, 2015

Julie Engebrecht, Michael Stillion mural marks rerouted CAC entrance, The Enquirer, Cincinnati, December 18,2014

Julie Engebrecht, Color takes over CAC, The Enquirer, Cincinnati, March 28, 2014

Kathy Schwartz,Works on Paper Help Make Memories Last, City Beat, July 31st, 2013

Gabrielle Blumenthal, Linda Warren Projects, Discovering Art in Chicago, http://discoveringartinchicago.blogspot.com/, February 13, 2013

Lee Shippey, Stillion’s work draws a crowd at Ripon College’s Caestecker Gallery, Wausau Daily Herald, February 10, 2012

Ben Ranes, Unorthodox Art from Unorthodox Muses, Ripon College Days, February 7, 2012

Christopher A. Yates, “Narratives of many forms” Columbus Dispatch, May 17, 2009

Cid Standifer, “It’s a show about monsters…” Roswell Daily Record, May 14, 2009

MW Capacity, “Q & A with Michael Stillion”- http://mwcapacity.wordpress.com, January 2009

Anne Chlovechok, “Art is life for Pleasant City native”, The Daily Jeffersonian, October 27, 2008

Exposed: Top 100 Secret Artists of 2007, catalogue, ArtWorks, Cincinnati, OH, 2008

Realism 2003, exhibition catalogue, Cultural Center of Fine Arts, Parkersburg, West Virginia, March – May 2003.

Jury Duty: interview w/ David Reed, Dialogue Magazine pg. 28, Volume 23 #5 Sept. – Oct. 2000