Michael Mararian

Rendering traditionally cheerful images and concepts into frightening, yet humorous, tableaus, Michael Mararian often focuses on children as the last bastion of innocence to explore the dark humor behind social and psychological issues. What can on one level be construed as melancholy and cruel, can alternately be viewed as amusing, even charming. He enjoys letting his viewers decide.

Michael is a graduate of the Art and Theater program at the University of Bridgeport as well having studied briefly at the Arts Student's League in New York City. His work has previously been shown at Corey Helford Gallery and Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles, Galerie D'Art Yves Laroche in Montreal, McCaig-Welles Gallery in New York City and the Antonia Fraunberg Gallery in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Originally from Andover, Massachusetts, Michael currently lives and works from his studios in Brooklyn and Buffalo, New York. He attributes his inspiration to his wife Elizabeth and their (now six!) cats - 99, Mavis, Charlotte, Lola Pumpkin, Bridgette and Zoey.


~ ARTIST STATEMENT ~

Since the mid 1980s, my work has involved exploring elements of contradiction. I am especially fascinated by our culture's urge to seek humor in situations deemed inappropriate. In my recent work, I deconstruct the American dream touching upon such topics as gross consumerism, school violence, teenage disappointments, pressures and the slowly growing social isolation that are part of our childhood and adult culture. The use of contradiction is an integral part of my work to magnify the absurdity of any given situation and draw a conflicting reaction from the viewer. Often times these themes are combined using real children as my inspiration from various forms of photography. I give the impression that my subjects are pasted cut-outs, hovering in their environments, skin tones rendered in grey to add to their removed, unearthly state of being. They are part of this vibrant world yet quite alone.

Each work is hand drawn in various paint, drybrush and ink forms, crudely scratched at times for a gritty, textured aesthetic. Inspired by new and old journalistic-style photography, vintage graphics, cabinet cards, as well as retro advertisements and post mortem photography, I spend hours scouring eBay and flea markets to gather the studies for my subjects. A collector of photography for many years, I am constantly inspired by the works of Shelby Lee Adams, Loretta Lux, Roger Ballen, Joel Peter Witkin and E. J. Bellocq.