ART FLOWS LIKE WATER
Michael Angelo Gagliardi
Biography
Michael Angelo Gagliardi was born and raised in New York City. In 1985 Michael Angelo graduated from C. W. Post College of Long Island University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and sculpture and a Master of Art in Theatrical Design. Although he was heavily influenced by the Neo-Expressionist style, Michael Angelo has spent his early career pursuing the creation of art in an impressive range of techniques, styles, and forms. During the same time, Michael Angelo began working as a professional scenic artist and stage craftsperson with off Broadway productions.
In 1989, he moved to Chicago, where he continued working at scenic studios and moved more into stage craft working as a carpenter, rigger and later, automation. Michael Angelo started touring the country with Broadway musicals in 1996, starting with Showboat. He spent nearly 30 years touring with the productions Titanic, Peter Pan, The Lion King, and The Color Purple, to name a few. Determined to continue making art along the way, Michael Angelo created a unique mobile art studio which he set up in every hotel room allowing him to create a vast amount of works on paper. Michael Angelo has shown throughout his career in Galleries and Museums in NYC, Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Tampa, Miami as well as other cities.
In 2009, while working on the Tour of the Broadway Musical Mary Poppins, Michael Angelo had a work-related accident which resulted in a permanent spine injury. In 2013 he was classified as disabled and retired. He remains dedicated to doing physical therapy, and considers himself fortunate that he is able to make art despite living in constant pain.
In addition to art making, Michael Angelo has pursued various interests throughout his life. He is a Certified Cave/Wreck/Technical Scuba Diver, Water conservationist, Forestry steward, Underwater cave restorations expert, Additionally, he served as expedition artist on Great Lake Shipwreck documentations, 2002 USS Monitor Turret recovery, underwater cave explorations, Fauna surveys and lecturer, fabricator for scientific studies. All these exposures have influenced and inspired his art.
Michael Angelo currently lives on his tree farm in High Springs, Florida with his wife.
“In the end, this is what artist are, in our most basic form. We are all story tellers. It is my hope that by telling someone stories with my art, I can provoke some new thoughts or feelings, to touch someone’s soul. Maybe by doing this, I will have earned the honor of inspiring other artists."
Artist Statement
“Art flows like water but burns like fire with passion”
My artwork tells stories that revolve around a character or characters in conflict within an environment rich with symbolic imagery and motif. For me, the nature of the story determines the medium, because different stories require different techniques. I work in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional media, using oil and acrylic paints, colored pencil, and crayons, as well as steel, cement, and stone.
When I see a found object such as an old piece of steel that has been tossed away, I don’t see trash, I see the possibility of what it may become, what its story is and will be. In my studio I study the piece and over the course of time (sometimes years) I look at the piece and dream. I start to see images in my mind of what it will be. Sometimes, I must acquire several parts before the whole starts to formulate in my mind. Then I begin to draw the artwork in a sketch book. The possibilities solidify. The line between the concept and the design converges into the spark. The epiphany occurs, a moment of clarity in which my mind sees the completed piece. I work out any technical aspects of the sculpture as I lay out the design. The work goes quickly; the character is now real to me. As I sculpt and paint, I tell the story saying it or singing it out loud. The title and the artwork finish often at the same time as I visually create the story, I write the story out in chalk, on the wall or workbench. Out of these words the title emerges, a small slice of the story.
When I work with clay and steel, I am using techniques and methods whose beginnings are lost in history. By using these methods, I am searching for the spirit not only of the first sculptors but the spirit that resides within the material. Water and fire, love and hate, pain and joy, life and death, loneliness, and contentment--all these juxtapositions can be found within the characters and environments of these visual stories. My art requires a high degree of physical action. My mental image becomes real because I fight and dance with the material. The physical nature of my work requires me to use all my emotions, love, hate, anger, pity, and my pain. These are instilled into the works; I pour all that I am into them. It is this dance of creation that brings life to my art and the stories it tells.
Resume
Michael Angelo Gagliardi
Artist/Designer
Born in 1962
EDUCATION: B.F.A. - C.W. POST COLLEGE of LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY- 1984 - FINE ARTS (Sculpture)
M.A - C.W. POST COLLEGE of LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY - 1986 - THEATRICAL DESIGN
UNION: I.A.T.S.E. - LOCAL #2 Chicago STAGEHANDS
GALLERY SHOWINGS
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Human Figures And Faces - Las Laguna Art Gallery
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Multiple Group Shows – Gainesville Fine Art Association - 2021
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4 Group Shows – David Jones Gallery – Kanas City Mo - 2021
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2021 - The Second Half (50 & Older) – Las Laguna Art Gallery – virtual show – July- 2021
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Freestyle: A Virtual Show - Flagler County Art League - 2021
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Diversia: Nature – Biafarin Opportunities – virtual show - 2021
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Exhibizone 4th Group Art Exhibition - Spring 2021 – Biafarin Opportunities – virtual show - 2021
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Artistonish - April 2021 - Biafarin Opportunities- virtual show- 202
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Downeast National Juried Indoor Sculpture Exhibition – Emerge Gallery and Art Center- Greenville NC – March - 2021
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November 2020 Group Art Show - Jones Gallery Kanas City – November - 2020
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2020 Art for the View-An Exhibition Celebrating Artists with Physical Disabilities (virtual) – Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation - October - 2020
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Nude Night Tampa - -3 day art event -Tampa – March - 2020
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Nude Night Orlando - -3 day art event -Orlando – February 2020
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The Valdosta National 2020 – group invitational exhibit – January - 2020
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Reclaimed - Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County – June thru August 2019
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Nude Night Tampa – 3 day art event – Tampa – March 2019
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Nude Night Orlando -3 day art event -Orlando – February 2019
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Alexandria Museum Of Fine Art – group show – Concrete And Adrift: On The Poverty Line – Alexandra, La – March - June 2019
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Site: Brooklyn Gallery – Group Show – Contemporary Sculpture – Brooklyn NY - 2019
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Visionary Art Gallery – Group show – Landscapes – Gainesville -2018
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Tench Arts Gallery - Michael Angelo Gagliardi – 35 Years As An Artist – Solo Show - Artist/curator – Gainesville - 2018
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Oak Hammond Gallery/Hippodrome Theatre Gallery - Folk Art Exhibition – Gainesville Fl - 2018
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Gainesville Fine Art Association Gallery – multiple shows – Gainesville Fl - 2015 to present
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Long Beach Foundation Of The Arts And Sciences - 2018 Works On Paper National Competition - Loveladies NJ - 2018
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Nude Nite Miami - 3day art event – Miami - 2017
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DNA From The Hand Of Man Gallery – gallery artist – Gainesville Fl - 2016 to 2017
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Nude Night Tampa - 3day art event – Tampa Bay - 2016 and 2017
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Oak Hammond/The Hippodrome Theatre Gallery – Da Da Exhibit - 2rd Place – Gainesville Fl - 2016
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Location 1980 Gallery (Costa Mesa CA) - Animal Spirit Group Show – Best in Show Award – Cosa Masa - 2015
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We Are Water – Gallery Swarm – artist/curator - Chicago - 2012
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Gallery Artist – 4Art Gallery – multiple group shows - Chicago - 2010 - 2013
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Pointe of Departure – Joffery Ballet - Chicago - 2011
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Emerging Artist Show -Urban Art Retreat – Chicago - 2011
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Maison Rouge Gallery - Gallery Artist – Chicago – 2008 - 2009
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Black Walnut Gallery – Multiple Shows – Chicago – 2007 - 2008
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Smart Show – The Flat Iron Building – Chicago - 2008
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Chicago Art Open – October 2005 - 2008
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Erotic Erotica – Elle Leven Gallery August – Chicago - 2008
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Artist for the Prevention of Violence Against Women In Uganda – Group Show Fund Raiser – Chicago - 2008
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Got Knifed Gallery - Multiple Group Shows– Chicago – 2007 - 2008
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Group Show – Infusion Gallery – Los Angeles – 2008
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Wits End Gallery – Aurora IL – Group show – Aurora Il - 2007
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Illustrations For Stories Not Yet Told – One Man Show – Gallery at Holy Covenant Church – Chicago - 2007
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Solo Show Sculpture – Art On Armitage Gallery – artist/curator – Chicago - 2006
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Chicago Area Artist Alliance Group Show – CAAA Gallery – Spring – Chicago -2006
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The Art House – Artist Cooperative – Oak Brook Il – 2005-2006
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Pop Up Gallery – Erotic Art Show – St Louis – 2005
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Artemisia Gallery Chicago – New Works - Solo show invite – Chicago – 1992
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Synergy Theatre Gallery – Multiple Shows, Group and solo – Chicago – 1991-93
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Artists Against Homelessness – Group show fund raiser - Chicago – 1989-92
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Ward-Lawrence Gallery – Michael Angelo Gagliardi Sculpture Solo Show – NYC - 1989
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9th Precinct Gallery – Outside Manhattan Group Show – NYC – 1988
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Stockwell Gallery – Rebirth (group show) – NYC - 198
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Revolving Door Gallery – Pop up gallery – Group Show – NYC – 1987-88
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Pop up gallery – Pop up Gallery – NYC – 1987
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Manhattan Performance Group – Solo Show – NYC - 1986
THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE:
1. Road Flyman – Mary Poppins –1/2009 – 12/2010
2. Head Carpenter (Vacation fill) - Jersey Boys (Chicago) – 10/04/08 – 12/28/08
3. Road Automation Man – The Color Purple –2/24/07 – 05/02/08
4. Local Carpenter - PIRATE QUEEN - Broadway in Chicago Palace Theatre
5. Advance Carpenter - The Lion King - Disney Theatrical –– 1/14/05 – 3/05/06
6. Assistant Carpenter - The Lion King - Disney Theatrical 2/09/03 – 2/06/04
7. Head Carpenter - Titanic - Dodger Theatricals - 10 venues/11 weeks-2000
8. Head Carpenter - Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby - PETER PAN COMPANY LLC Bus/truck tour - 30 venues including Broadway twice 1998-99
9. Head Carpenter - SHOWBOAT III - National Tour LIVENT (US) INC. - 7 venues - 1996-98
10. FREELANCE CARPENTER/WELDER - (Hawkeye Scenic Studios, Becker Scenic Studios CBS-TV, WGN-TV, FOX 32) - 1992-2002
11. FREELANCE STAGEHAND - (Palace Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Shubert Theatre, Chicago Theatre, Rosemont Theatre.) - 1991-2007
12. CUSTOM PROP MAKER - Independent Contractor- 1992-2003
13. AUDITORIUM THEATRE - Carpenter (City Of Angels, Miss Saigon, Crazy for You, Phantom Of The Opera) - 1992-95
14. POPLAR CREEK MUSIC THEATRE - Spot Light Operator - 1991-94
15. CHICAGO SCENIC STUDIOS - Paint Dept. Supervisor - 1989-90
16. STAGE SCENERY (BRUCE & BRUCE), J. PATTERSON SCENIC STUDIOS - Carpenter, Welder, Scenic Artist - 1985-88
Special Artistic experiences
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Conservation Chairman – NSS-CDS – 2015 to 2018 – Team Leader Underwater Cave Archiving Project
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Conservation Chairman/ Bod – NACD – Multiple Conservation projects - 2013-2015
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Expedition artist – Cozumel Cenote Exploration and Mapping Expedition 2011-2012
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Artist and team leader – Whale Bone –Devil’s Springs Restoration project 2015
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Artist and team leader - Cow Springs Restoration Project - 2009
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USS MONITOR 2002 SURVEY EXPEDITION - expedition artist/research scuba diver - N.O.A.A. – 2002