Address: Chicago, Illinois

E-mail: f.michalski@sbcglobal.net

M.A. - University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, 1983
B.F.A. - University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee, 1978

Non-Representational Art intrigues me because of what I see as this paradox: That which seems to depict nothing in particular can actually hold everything.

This idea of “nothing” leading to “everything” reflects my understanding of the mysteries within my life’s journey. As I am painting I consider opposing forces of control/spontaneity, light/dark, horizontal/vertical and the interplay of colors that harmonize or contrast. Encaustic painting can be both fluid and solid. Layering, scraping and scoring become metaphors for time and memory within the paintings.

My Art contains basic structures, layers, fragments and edges. I explore these components intuitively. As I work on each painting I am bringing the separate elements together to create a whole. The ultimate meaning remains purposefully open-ended. For me this reflects a spiritual reality closer to the truth of my life than what could be expressed through a closed narrative or concept.

Within my choice to explore open-endedness is a response to current societal and environmental changes that I see as upheavals leading to what feels like an unknown and unpredictable future.

2000
School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College; Evanston, IL

1998
ARC Gallery, Invitational Space 1; Chicago, IL

1988
Chicago Workshop *Architects*; Chicago, IL

1998
Moraine Valley Community College; Palos Hills, IL

1987
Hild Cultural Center; Chicago, IL
Earth Energy Pastel Drawings, Beverly Art Center; Chicago, IL

2011
She, Black Cloud Gallery, Chicago, IL
Addington Gallery, Chicago, IL
Playing with Fire, national juried encaustic show, Tubac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ
Mixed Emotions, Best Chicago Properties, curated by Emily Rutledge, Chicago, IL

2010
WAX, Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival, curated, Chicago, IL
Bravera, Black Walnut/Robert Wayner Gallery, Chicago, IL
Hot Art, Highland Park Art Center, Highland Park, IL
Without a Map, Northbrook Public Library 8th Int’l juried show, Northbrook, IL
The Art Loop Open, Susan Aurinko, Theaster Gates, Mary Jane Jacob, Tricia Van Eck, jurors, Chicago, IL