Artist Talk: Michael Patterson

Lily Pad Gallery West is honored to present a special exhibition of recent work by artist Michael Patterson. 

Born into a family of painters, Michael Patterson was born in Hudson, New York. Howard Ashman Patterson, his grandfather, was an established American painter whose work continually influences and inspires Michael. Patterson graduated from Suny Purchase with honors, studying printmaking, painting, and sculpture. Patterson has been traveling and painting for over 35 years, finding inspiration wherever he goes. Having lived in France for several years, he has shown his work throughout Europe as well as the United States.

"My work has focus on several objectives. Light, reflected light and its color effects, as well as the positive and negative shapes of equal importance, creating the graphic energy of my compositions. This sets the rhythm for a piece and influences where the viewer’s eye travels and at what pace. I include curved lines with straight, organic shapes juxtaposed geometric shapes woven together, always conscious of the line created by any color masses converging. This line flows throughout, interrupted, yet continuous. Finally, the subject of my work most always includes the human figure wherever they may be- city streets, markets, the beach, alone or in groups.  People are the most interesting part of creation."  

Patterson draws inspiration from city streets, people at the beach, people playing music, and general human expression.Patterson has traveled across the Americas and Europe, where his paintings are also held in numerous private and corporate collections. He continues to paint and create sculptures of carved stone and also welded metal. 

His residence and studio are located on a river in Connecticut, where he lives with his wife, Jessyka.