Artist Statement |
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In my paintings, I'm always telling a story by combining poignant phrases with symbolic images. These little stories are based on personal concerns and daily life. The work becomes a visual narrative on the subjects of communication, alienation, love, and identity. I find the text in common sources—books, newspapers, and conversations with friends. I use irony in the text to cross the boundary between drama and comedy. There are characters, a line of action, drama, and conflict. The paintings are often described in terms of cartoons, primitive folk art, or religious miniatures. Although these are references to art that I admire, I am not interested in making art about art. Nor do I pretend to be totally primitive in the midst of contemporary society. I just feel a greater interest in mythology than in the theories of my contemporaries. I want the viewer to be emotionally involved with the painting. If what I've said can become transpersonal, or even universal, then I've succeeded. I want people to come away with insight into their own lives. - Michele Roberts |
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Selected Exhibitions (*Solo Shows) |
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| 2006-2004 | VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. |
| 2003 | ART FOR AUTISM Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA. |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 2002-1998 | VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. |
| 1997 | KIRKLAND ARTS CENTER Kirkland, Washington. |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1996 | VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. |
| INTIMAN THEATRE Seattle, WA. Permanent display in lounges. | |
| 1995 | USCS PRINTERS EXHIBIT Parjaro Valley Arts Council Gallery, Watsonville, CA. |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| INTIMAN THEATRE Seattle, WA. Permanent display in lounges. | |
| 1994 | NORTHWEST ART COMPETITION, WHATCOM MUSEUM OF ART Bellingham, WA. Juried by Howard Fox and Barbara Nechis. |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| INTIMAN THEATRE Seattle, WA. Permanent display in lounges. | |
| 1993 | ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. |
| PONCHO Silent Auction, Seattle, WA. | |
| B-1 GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. | |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1992 | LINDA HODGES GALLERY Seattle, WA. |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| CARECEN Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. | |
| B-1 GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. | |
| 1991 | *ROBERT BERMAN GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. |
| BESS CUTLER GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. | |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1990 | GROUP SHOW Heritage Museum, Santa Monica, CA. |
| HEAL THE BAY James Corcoran Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. | |
| *B-1 GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. | |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1989 | *MICHELE ROBERTS Cypress College, Cypress, CA. |
| VALENTINE SHOW Jamie Beggs Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA. | |
| CARECEN Fred Hoffman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. | |
| VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1988 | THE GRAPHIC ARTS COUNCIL, VALENTINE'S GALA AUCTION Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, CA. |
| BY COMIX TOUCHED Long Beach Museum, Long Beach, CA. Curated by Josine Janco-Starrels. (Michele Roberts, Dick Ibach, John Carter.) | |
| VENICE ARTWALK DOCENT TOURS Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1987 | AMERICAN POP CULTURE TODAY Laforet Museum, Tokyo, Japan. |
| *NEW WORKS Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA. | |
| MOCA BENEFIT Bullock's Downtown, Los Angeles, CA. | |
| HOMEFIRES Paintings for Party Scene, Movie for Showtime, National Television. | |
| VENICE ARTWALK DOCENT TOURS Silent Auction, Venice, CA. | |
| 1986 | VENICE ARTWALK Silent Auction, Venice, CA. |
| SERIES Art Rental Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Alice Lainer and Sandy Seltzer. | |
| 1985 | CHRISTMAS SHOW Fiona Whitney Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Fiona Whitney. |
| PRINTER'S VISION Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Linda Lyke. | |
| WALL WORKS L.A. Artcore, Los Angeles, CA. Juried. Judge: Joan Hugo. | |
| *B-1 GALLERY Santa Monica, CA. | |
| 1984 | FROM HISTORY TO ACTION The Woman's Building, Los Angeles, CA. Juried. Judge: Lucy Lippard. |
| THE FOURTH EXHIBITION Los Angeles Harbor College Gallery, WIlmington, CA. Juried. Judge: Melinda Wortz. | |
| DRAWINGS: NINE ARTISTS Topo Swope Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by John Millei. | |
| LACE BENEFIT ART AUCTION Los Angeles, CA. | |
| 1983 | *JENNIFER DUMAS GALLERY Los Angeles, CA. |
| *LANGMAN GALLERY Philadelphia, PA. | |
| 13TH ANNUAL WORKS ON PAPER EXHIBITION South-West Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. Juried. Judge: Roland Reiss. | |
| 1982 | BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS The American Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Curated by Craig O'Rourke. |
Collections |
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| LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (Purchased for the Permanent Collection of Prints and Drawings), Los Angeles, CA. | |
| TIMES MIRROR New York, NY. | |
| THE McDONALD CORPORATION Los Angeles, CA. | |
| ASUCLA Art Rental, Los Angeles, CA. | |
| TERRI GARR Private Collection. | |
| JACKSON BROWNE Private Collection. | |
| RICK WOLFEN Private Collection. | |
| JIMMY WOOD Private Collection. | |
| JULIE CARLSTROM Private Collection. | |
Articles and Reviews |
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| "TOUCHED BY THE HEARTBEAT OF THE 'COMIX'," William Wilson, Los Angeles Times, August 18, 1988. | |
| "PICK OF THE WEEK," Peter Frank, L.A. Weekly, September 9-15, 1988. | |
| "INSPIRATION FROM THE FUNNY PAPERS," Zan Dubin, Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1988. | |
| "LIFE AS LOONEY TUNE," Dianah Berland, Long Beach Press-Telegram, August 7, 1988. | |
| "THE GALLERIES," Suzanne Mechanic, Los Angeles Times, June 24, 1983. | |
| "MICHELE ROBERTS," Bill Lasarow, Art Scene, June, 1983. | |
Catalogs |
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| "BY COMIX TOUCHED," Josine Janco-Starrels, Long Beach Museum, Long Beach, CA, 1988. | |
| "AMERICAN POP CULTURE TODAY," Robert Berman, Laforet Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 1987. | |
| "FROM HISTORY TO ACTION," Lucy Lippard, Woman's Building, Los Angeles, CA, 1984. | |
| "THE FOURTH EXHIBITION," Melinda Wortz, Los Angeles Harbor College, Wilmington, CA, 1984. | |
| "THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL WORKS ON PAPER EXHIBITION," Roland Reiss, South-West Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, 1983. | |
Awards and Honors |
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| WINNING T-SHIRT DESIGN Venice Family Clinic Art Walk, Venice, CA. Juried by James Corcoran, Josine Janco-Starrels, and Joy Silverman, 1988. | |
| JUROR'S AWARD The Thirteenth Annual Works On Paper Exhibition, San Marcos, Texas. Juried by Roland Reiss, 1984. | |
Work Experience |
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| ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN Teacher, "Career Directions" and "Introduction to Printmaking", 1984-1987. | |
| ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN Curator of Wayne Thiebaud Exhibition, 1980. | |
Education |
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| ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN B.F.A. With Distinction, 1981. | |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SANTA CRUZ B.A. Fine Art, 1977. | |
Movies (work featured in) |
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| SHORT CUTS 1993 Robert Altman. | |
| HOME FIRES Showtime. | |
Television |
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| THE OFFICE Episode where Jim has a party at his apartment and Michael is not invited. Artwork above sofa in Jim's Apartment is The Forest (silkscreen). | |