Michael Sturtz

Michael’s pieces address concept and form through the visualization of fused biological and mechanical elements. His sculptures are hybrids of impossible pairings and momentous environments coming together to radiate destructive and re-constructive energy.

His art showcases a strong juxtaposition between materials including; metals and glass, stone and kinetics, fire and liquid, 3D objects and video. By contrasting natural functions with industrial and technological processes, Michael has formed a body of work that is incapable of stagnation, and instead explores the exponential evolution of medium and concept.

1998 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL M.F.A.

1994 New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred, NY B.F.A. Magna Cum Laude

1992 Studio de Sem Ghelardini, Pietrasanta (Luca) Italy – Apprenticeship

1992 Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy – Honor Student

1990 Pitzer College, Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA

Awards & Honors

1998 Absolut Au Kurant Juried Invitational Merit Award, Chicago, IL

1998 Dussek Campbell-Yates Shaping the Future Award, Chicago, IL

1998 Edward L. Rhyerson Fellowship Award The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1996 Jury Award Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA

1994 Olin Award F.W. Olin College of Business, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

1994 Departmental Honors The School of Art & Design, NYSCC, Alfred, NY

1993 Jury Award for outstanding media articulation, School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY

1992 S.A.C.I. Award for excellence in sculpture, Florence, Italy

Permanent Collections

1999 Longmont United Hospital Commission, Denver, CO

1998 Burmah Castrol House, Swindon, England, UK

1998 Aldo Castillo Gallery, Chicago, IL

1996 The City of Walnut Creek, Civic Park, Walnut Creek, CA

1996 Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA

1994 The International Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred, Alfred, NY

1994 F.W. Olin College of Business, Alfred University, Alfred, NY

1994 Landmark College, Putney VT

Reviews

1999 Artweek “Michael Sturtz at blasthaus” November Vol. 30, # 11, p. 18-19.

1999 San Francisco Chronicle “Arts Afire” Friday, July 9, Cover & p. 2 EB

1999 Oakland Tribune “Metal sculptor makes dream of arts school a reality” Fri. March 19, p.1,5

1998 San Francisco Chronicle “Those Who Teach Also Create” Friday, July 10 p. 2 cc

1998 Contra Costa Times: “Art keeps pulsing at gallery” Thursday, July 16, Cover & p. 3.

1998 Diablo Arts “The Art of Teaching Art” July-September, p. 35-36.

1998 Chicago Reader ”Galleries & Museums” May 29, Vol 34, Section 2, p. 21.

1998 Contra Costa Times “Exhibits” May 22, p.34.

1998 Chicago Reader “Public Displays: Designing a Disturbance” May 21, Vol 33, p. 19 & 43.

1997 MicroSoft NBC “The Site” (Television review)

1997 SF Weekly “Symbio-Mechanisis: Artificial Life Art” October 2-6, p. 53-54.

1996 Artweek “Natural Phenomena at the Bedford Gallery” June Vol. 27, # 6, p. 19-21.

1996 San Francisco Bay Guardian “Critic’s Choice” June 19- 25, Vol 30, # 38, p. 101.

1996 Benicia Herald “Unearthing what we’d rather leave buried” June 13, p. A3.

1996 Diablo Arts “Back to Nature” April-June, p. 26-29, 48.

1996 Contra Costa Times: “Art takes on a natural look ” April 11, Cover & p. 3.

1996 Metro Arts “Digging Up the Future” January 4-10; p. 31.

1996 Mac Home Journal “Blasthaus The Real Deal” January; p. 142.

1995 MAS moda “art seen” holiday; p. 48.

1995 c/net central (T.V. Interview/ Internet site) USA network, Sci- Fi Channel & KPIX 5

1995 The Oakland Tribune Thursday, September 7; cover & Cue 1,5.

1994 The Montclarion Friday, June 2; cover & p. 3.

1993 San Francisco Examiner Magazine Sunday May 7; p. 18-19.

1992 Northern California Home & Garden May; p. 105, 126-127.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

1999 Machines of Metal & Light Blasthaus, San Francisco, CA

1998 Organsmatic & Mechanatomical Works The Better Weimaraner Gallery, Chicago, IL

1995 Signs of Life: Technology to Revive a Dead Planet Holmes Fine Art Gallery, San Jose, CA

1994 Remains and Artifacts of A Dead Planet NYSCC, School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY

1991 From Here to Reality Garden Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

1990 In the Beginning Salathe’ Gallery, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2009 Illuminated Sculpture Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA

2005 Carpe Lumen USF Thatcher Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1999 RGB: Red, Green, Blue San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ( SFMOMA), San Francisco, CA

1999 Faculty Exhibition The Current Gallery, Berkeley, CA

1998 The Form of Function Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL

1998 Sculptural Objects Functional Art Exposition : SOFA Navy Pier, Chicago, IL

1998 Trans Cinema Festival Victoria Theatre, San Francisco, CA

1998 Civic Arts Faculty Show Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA

1998 Not in My Lobby, You Don’t! Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL

1998 Ferris Opus International Cast Iron Art Conference, Johnson Atelier, NJ

1998 Pier Walk ’98 maquette exhibit, Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL

1997 Sculptural Objects Functional Art Exposition : SOFA Navy Pier, Chicago, IL

1997 Works in Sculpture Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL

1997 Global Bodies ZKM Center for Arts and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany

1997 8th International Symposium of Electronic Arts Chicago Art Institute Chicago, IL

1997 Water Visions A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA

1997 Film Arts Foundation: Installation Minna Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1996 Ceramics in Northern California Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center, Walnut Creek, CA

1996 SMART South of Market Art. Rhythm & Technology San Francisco, CA

1996 Post Waste: An Imperative for the Near Future Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA

1996 Natural Phenomena Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center, Walnut Creek, CA

1995 Tech Bash: Artist Bashing Technology Blasthaus, San Francisco, CA

1995 Beyond Boundaries The Ebell Garden Center, Festival at The Lake, Oakland, CA

1993 15th Annual Outdoor Light Exhibition NYSCC, School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY

1993 Studio Access to Glass Auction West End Gallery, Corning, NY

1992 Honors Exhibition Ginori Gallery, Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy

1992 Designer Showcase Villa Del Ensueno, Orinda, CA

1992 WORLDESIGN 92 Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA

1990 Communication of Form McConnell Center, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA

Teaching Positions

1999-current Instructor The Crucible Non-Profit: Berkeley & Oakland CA

1995-99 Ceramic Shell Casting & Ceramic Sculpture Instructor Civic Arts Center, Walnut Creek, CA

1997 Figurative Metal Sculpture Instructor The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1997 Welding Instructor The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1996 Welding & Metal Working Instructor Xcentric Metal Studio, Oakland, CA

1996 Stone Carving & Ceramics Instructor Studio One Art Center, Oakland, CA

1994-96 Ceramics, Carpentry, & Soap box Instructor Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito, CA

1994 Sodium Silicate Bronze Casting Instructor Mendocino Art Center, CA

1994 Fine Arts Director Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, Oakland, CA

1994 Instructor / Sculpture Technician The Way of The Doll School, Emeryville, CA

1992 Marble Carving Instructor Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy

Selected Lectures & Workshops

1999 Lecture ”From Artist to Teacher to Director “ Blasthaus Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1998 Ceramics Instructor National Institute for Art & Disabilities, Richmond, CA

1997 Cast Iron Foundry Instructor Ox-Bow Summer Program, Saugatuck, MI

1997 Forging and Metal Forming Workshop The Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL

1997 Alternative Ceramic Techniques Lecture The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1996 Sodium Silicate Bonded Sand Mold Workshop California College of Arts & Crafts, Oakland, CA

1996 Mold Making Workshop Civic Arts Center, Walnut Creek, CA

1995 Clay Carving & Glass Cullet Glazing Workshop ASUC Art Studio at U.C. Berkeley, CA

1995 Figure Sculpture Workshops Emeryville Adult School, Emeryville, CA

1994 Ceramic Sculpture Techniques Lecture Mendocino Arts Center, Mendocino, CA