Michael Carson Solo Exhibition

About the Exhibition

Michael Carson's latest collection represents a bold evolution in his signature figurative style. Inspired by his recent journey through Italy, Carson has infused his work with immersive and innovative backgrounds, creating a dynamic interplay between architectural elements, abstract forms, and the human figure.

The exhibition features 14 diverse scenes that showcase Carson's masterful use of color, light, and composition. His paintings capture fleeting moments of contemporary life, each imbued with a sense of timeless sophistication and emotional depth.

Viewers will be drawn into Carson's world of glamorous scenes set in bars, clubs, cafés, and dance studios. His work is marked by a hazy realism reminiscent of French impressionist and post-impressionist works, bringing to mind artists such as Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Artists Perspective

Michael Carson's latest body of work is deeply influenced by his recent travels through Italy. "Something about travel always inspires me and puts me in the mood to paint, and Italy is my favorite," Carson explains. "I couldn't wait to get back and work. The thought of my first solo exhibit with Abend Gallery in Denver, Colorado, filled me with excitement. I was determined to create work that would make a solid first impression."

This new series represents an evolution in Carson's approach to figurative painting. "Of course, this new series is figurative work, per my usual, but the backgrounds became more immersive and vital, and I started seeing opportunities to enhance and evolve my work," he says. Carson elaborates on his process: "I loved finding new ways in which compositions of figures would interact and sometimes take a back seat to the evolving background designs, whether architectural or abstract. The idea was to consider the shapes and space around the figure as its entity, with its own importance, while also fitting into a larger cohesive design."

Carson's creative process for this exhibition involved working on multiple pieces simultaneously. "I worked on many pieces at once, jumping from one to the next, which made the pieces feel fresh," he explains. This approach, which he describes as a method to maintain "fresh eyes," allowed him to explore new techniques. "I allowed pieces to dry and layer paint over some time to create depth that was both graphic and vague and opened up some new techniques that felt like I was traveling in the right direction," Carson adds.