About the Artists
Mike Sivak
Mike at work on Feminine Mystique
Bio:
Artist Mike Sivak has a varied professional and creative background. Born and raised in Detroit, he spent his college years playing in a Bluegrass band throughout southeast Michigan. In the early 70’s he moved to Southern California and worked in the gold industry of Los Angeles as a courier, flying to New York and the Far East on a regular basis. After winning the lottery while in L.A., he went back to school to pursue his true passion: Art. Mike’s subsequent Bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Art Center College of Design led him to work in San Francisco for a startup software company designing 3D worlds for the Internet. In 2001 he returned to Michigan, taking up residence in Ann Arbor with his wife Julie and their six cats. Throughout his life he has pursued his passion for painting, collage and sculptural work. The past four years have seen the fruition of that passion, resulting in the first showings of his work.
Education:
B.S. in Biology & Chemistry, Eastern University, Ypsilanti, Michigan
B.F.A. in Illustration, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California
Work:
Mike's work can be described as detailed assemblages (sometimes obsessive), using objects and materials that together become worlds to discover and lose one’s self within. His hope is that the end results show evidence of his own journey, discoveries and passion for life.
Shows:
- 2011 Family Ties, group show, The Scarab Club, Detroit, MI
- 2011 Reclaim, Revere, Regard, group show, Klemm Gallery at Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI
- 2010 DAM Box Show, group show, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI
- 2010 Will Build to Suit, group show, The Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti, MI
- 2010 Mind, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2010 In Spite of the Evidence, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2009 The Creators: Self-Portraits, group show, Brown and Juanita Ford Gallery, Detroit
- 2009 ArtPrize, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- 2009 Shrines and Altars, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2009 From a Different Perspective, group show, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit
- 2008 Step Right Up, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2008 Voices, juried group show, The Scarab Club, Detroit
- 2008 Bugs Blooms Beasts, juried group show, The Scarab Club, Detroit
- 2007 Guns: Not for Killers but Collectors, group show, Tangent Gallery, Detroit
- 2007 My Private Utopia, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2007 State of the Union, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2007 Insatiable, group show, Biegas Gallery, Detroit
- 2006 Lady Liberty Project, group show, ACLU, Detroit
- 2006 DAM Box Show, group show, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit
- 2006 Humor Show, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2006 War/Not War, group show, The Scarab Club, Detroit
- 2006 Game Show, group show, CAID, Detroit
- 2005 God Show, group show, The Gallery Project, Ann Arbor
- 2005 Permanent display, Tabor Hill Gallery, Ann Arbor