Captive Coal Opening Artist Talk

My retrospective exhibition Captive Coal official opening at the Sharp Museum of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL was on January 19th, 2024 where I gave an Artist Talk to a nice crowd of family, collectors, faculty, students and more than a few folks from the local coal industry. Thanks go out to Wm Weston Stoerger, Curator of Exhibitions, Collectors and Organizers of the Exhibition John and Lucia Hollister, Dean John Politz and my long time partner and wife the artist Jeanne Nemcek. Exhibition runs the full semester until May 10th .

Captive Coal to Open At Sharp Museum

I am very pleased to announce that I will have a one-person exhibition, Captive Coal, that will be presented at the Sharp Museum of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, opening January 16th and on view through May 10th, 2024, this will be a retrospective exhibition covering 30 years of my work that will feature from the very early worker drawings and paintings through to the most recent large-scale paintings on raw canvas. I will give an Artist Talk at the opening and the documentary film,Work at Hand, will be screened during the run of the show at some point. A special thanks goes to Curator of Exhibitions, WM Weston Stoerger and long time collectors and wonderful supporters, John E. and Lucia Hollister.

Captive Coal Retrospective Exhibition of Chicago Artist Michael K. Paxton

Interpolated Opens

My one-person exhibition Interpolate opens September 12th and will be on view with at the University Art Gallery of Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois until October 19th. This exhibition will feature my large-scale Interpolations works on canvas and a few midsize charcoal on paper drawings. Thanks to Director Tyler Hennings for this opportunity to share my work with the WIU art students, faculty and folks of Macomb. Shown is a detail of Interpolations #11

2023 Individual Artist Program Awarded

I’m happy to announce that I have received a 2023 Individual Artist Program grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for both photography of new work and series of accordion folded cards for future exhibitions #DCASEgrants. 

2024 Forthcoming One-person Museum Exhibition Announced

I am very pleased to announce that I will be featured in a one-person retrospective museum exhibition presented by the Sharp Museum of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, in the North Hall Mitchell Gallery.. Opening January 16th, 2024 and on view until May 16th, 2024, an Artist Talk will also be part of the opening of the exhibition. The focus of the exhibition is how coal has informed my work and life. A big thank you goes out to WM Weston Stoerger, Curator of Exhibitions and long time collectors John E. and Lucia Hollister.

Forthcoming One-person Exhibition Announced

I am pleased to announce that I will be featured in a forthcoming one-person exhibition of large-scale paintings and drawings that will be with the University Art Gallery of Western Illinois University. Opening September 12th and running through October 19th, 2023, the core of the exhibition will draw from my Interpolations series. A short Artist Talk will be at the opening, A big thank you to Tyler Hennings, Director.

Interpolate #6, 96"x72"

Drawings in Line Work 8

Along with the tribute to my work as a Figure Drawing Instructor in Line Work 8.5, I was also included with a couple of drawings in the main issue of Line Work 8. Shown here is one of them of my late Mother Pauline.

Pauline.jpg