Professional Sculptor:
View sculptural work
- Sculptures address concept & form through intriguing kinetic machines & strong material contrasts
- Exhibited in numerous group & solos shows nationally & internationally, and a retrospective exhibition
- Works in museums, national and international permanent collections
- Presented a wide variety of lectures, workshops and classes
- Received numerous commissions, jury awards, honors and sponsorships
- Received critical acclaim and numerous press and media coverage
Selected Solo Art Exhibitions
- 1999 “Machines of Metal & Light” Blasthaus, San Francisco, CA
- 1998 “Organsmatic & Mechanatomical Works” The Better Weimaraner Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 1995 “Signs of Life” Art Tech: Holmes Fine Art Gallery, San Jose, CA
- 1994 “Remains and Artifacts of A Dead Planet” NYSCC, School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY
- 1991 “From Here to Reality” Garden Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
- 1990 “In the Beginning” Salathe’ Gallery, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
Selected Group Art Exhibitions
- 2012 “Heartworks” The Exploritoritum After Dark, San Francisco, CA
- 2012 “Viscosity” Float Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
- 2011 “Relaunch” Varnish Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
- 2010 Installation at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
- 2009 “Illuminated Sculpture” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA
- 2008 “Molten Metal Opera” Performance installation: de Young Museum, SF, CA
- 2005 “Carpe Lumen” USF Thatcher Gallery, San Francisco, CA
- 1999 “RGB: Red, Green, Blue” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), SF,CA
- 1999 “Faculty Exhibition” The Current Gallery, Berkeley, CA
- 1998 “The Form of Function” Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 1998 “SOFA: Sculptural Objects Functional Art Exposition” Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
- 1998 “Trans Cinema Festival” Victoria Theatre, San Francisco, CA
- 1998 “Civic Arts Faculty Show” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA
- 1998 “Not in My Lobby, You Don’t!” Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
- 1998 “Ferris Opus” International Cast Iron Art Conference, Johnson Atelier, NJ
- 1998 “Pier Walk maquette exhibit” Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 1997 “SOFA: Sculptural Objects Functional Art Exposition” Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
- 1997 “Works in Sculpture” Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 1997 “Global Bodies” ZKM Center for Arts and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany
- 1997 “8th International Symposium of Electronic Arts” Chicago Art Institute Chicago, IL
- 1997 “Water Visions” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
- 1997 “Film Arts Foundation” Installation Minna Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA
- 1996 “Ceramics in Northern California” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center, WC, CA
- 1996 “SMART: South of Market Art. Rhythm & Technology” San Francisco, CA
- 1996 “Post Waste: An Imperative for the Near Future” Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA
- 1996 “Natural Phenomena” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center, Walnut Creek, CA
- 1995 “Tech Bash: Artist Bashing Technology” Blasthaus, San Francisco, CA
- 1995 “Beyond Boundaries” The Ebell Garden Center, Festival at The Lake, Oakland, CA
- 1993 “15th Annual Outdoor Light Exhibition” NYSCC, School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY
- 1993 “Studio Access to Glass” West End Gallery, Corning, NY
- 1992 “Honors Exhibition” Ginori Gallery, Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy
- 1992 “Designer Showcase” Villa Del Ensueno, Orinda, CA
- 1992 “WORLDESIGN 92” Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA
- 1990 “Communication of Form” McConnell Center, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
Selected Permanent Collections
- 2012 Corporate collection: Fleenor Paper Company, Alameda CA
- 2009 The Olsen private collection, Oakland, CA
- 2006 Laurel District: Designed street furniture, The City of Oakland, CA
- 2005 The Lyon private collection, Mendocino, CA
- 1999 Longmont United Hospital Commission, Denver, CO
- 1998 Burmah Castrol House, Swindon, England, UK
- 1998 Aldo Castillo Gallery, Chicago, IL
- 1996 The City of Walnut Creek, Civic Park, Walnut Creek, CA
- 1996 Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA
- 1994 The International Museum of Ceramic Art: School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY
- 1994 F.W. Olin College of Business, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
- 1994 Landmark College, Putney VT
Selected Reviews
- 2012 San Francisco Chronicle ‘Viscosity’ Mary Eisenhart, Thursday, February 23
- 2011 San Francisco Chronicle “Independents Day: Celebrating our Favorite Bay Area Originals”
- 1999 Artweek “Michael Sturtz at blasthaus” November Vol. 30, # 11, p. 18-19.
- 1999 San Francisco Chronicle “Arts Afire” Friday, July 9, Cover & p. 2 EB
- 1999 Oakland Tribune “Metal sculptor makes dream of arts school a reality” Fri. March 19, p.1,5
- 1998 San Francisco Chronicle “Those Who Teach Also Create” Friday, July 10 p. 2 cc
- 1998 Contra Costa Times: “Art keeps pulsing at gallery” Thursday, July 16, Cover & p. 3.
- 1998 Diablo Arts “The Art of Teaching Art” July-September, p. 35-36.
- 1998 Chicago Reader ”Galleries & Museums” May 29, Vol 34, Section 2, p. 21.
- 1998 Contra Costa Times “Exhibits” May 22, p.34.
- 1998 Chicago Reader “Public Displays: Designing a Disturbance” May 21, Vol 33, p. 19 & 43.
- 1997 MicroSoft NBC “The Site” (Television review)
- 1997 SF Weekly “Symbio-Mechanisis: Artificial Life Art” October 2-6, p. 53-54.
- 1996 Artweek “Natural Phenomena at the Bedford Gallery” June Vol. 27, # 6, p. 19-21.
- 1996 San Francisco Bay Guardian “Critic’s Choice” June 19- 25, Vol 30, # 38, p. 101.
- 1996 Benicia Herald “Unearthing what we’d rather leave buried” June 13, p. A3.
- 1996 Diablo Arts “Back to Nature” April-June, p. 26-29, 48.
- 1996 Contra Costa Times: “Art takes on a natural look ” April 11, Cover & p. 3.
- 1996 Metro Arts “Digging Up the Future” January 4-10; p. 31.
- 1996 Mac Home Journal “Blasthaus The Real Deal” January; p. 142.
- 1995 MAS moda “art seen” holiday; p. 48.
- 1995 c/net central (T.V. Interview/ Internet site) USA network, Sci- Fi Channel & KPIX 5
- 1995 The Oakland Tribune Thursday, September 7; cover & Cue 1,5.
- 1994 The Montclarion Friday, June 2; cover & p. 3.
- 1993 San Francisco Examiner Magazine Sunday May 7; p. 18-19.
- 1992 Northern California Home & Garden May; p. 105, 126-127.