Michael O’Briant grew up in Asheboro, North Carolina. He received his BFA from East Carolina University and his MFA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He lives in Chicago where he is represented by Alma Gallery. He is also represented at Jack Meier Gallery in Houston, New Buffalo Art Gallery in, New Buffalo, MI, and Jessup Cellars Gallery in Yountville, CA.
Artist Statement
I am constantly working and creating directly on the canvas and feel my innate knowledge of my physical work has recently surpassed my intellectual capacity to describe every step. Nature, as always, plays a huge influence in my vision, perhaps more literally now than before, but I am working from memory and intuition, as opposed to photographs or plein aire. Texture, line and composition play equally with loose color fields and soft S-curves. The new abstracts and abstract landscapes are, I’m sure, one more bridge to my next series.
