Antony Micallef
Encyclopedia
Antony Micallef English contemporary artist and painter.
Internationally acclaimed artist Antony Micallef appeared on the art scene in 2000, winning second prize in the BP Portrait Award competition. Since then his mix of political imagery fused with contemporary
expressionism
has won him world wide acclaim. Recent exhibitions include group shows at the Royal Academy
and the Tate Britain
.
Collectors of his work include Angelina Jolie
and Brad Pitt
and a handful of Hollywood’s young, bright and beautiful. His paintings examine our relationship with consumerism and branding among other things. His work concerns itself with what he sees as the ‘frivolities’ of pop culture in a process that’s been dubbed ‘critical pop’.
, some of Micallef's work illustrates many contemporary cultural aspects and connects them with the human experience. His use of neutral colors and depictions of the human form delve beyond pop culture and bring to the surface many of the things that operate underneath the cultural construct. Aspects of Micallef's work examines our dichotomous relationship with consumerism
, questioning how we can despise multi-national brands yet still allow ourselves to be seduced by them. He frequently uses the union of two opposites to make an intriguing chemistry. Micallef's practice has been summarized as 'critical pop', exposing the darker side of our consumerist society and the human condition
.
His painting style has been compared to Francis Bacon
and is seen as an amalgamation of influences from the old masters such as Caravaggio
and Velázquez
to more modern contemporary photographers and graphic artists. His depiction of the human body and mark making echo his teachings from John Virtue
, a former student of Frank Auerbach
. The rawness of expressionistic painterly
marks is a stark contrast to the more graphic elements which surfaces throughout his work.
From 18 June 2007 Sotheby's
catalogue:
May 2009. London. UK
Antony Micallef participates in Tunnel 228, a show featuring over 20 artists and the theatre company Punchdrunk
. A Metropolis
-inspired exhibition with a mixture of art and live performance by actors. Located in the tunnels off Leak Street underneath Waterloo Station
and directed by Kevin Spacey
.
The Royal Academy.
1 November 2008 to Jan 19, 2009. London. UK
Antony Micallef was invited by the RA to take part in a group show showcasing new contemporaries. The 4 bronze, nickel plated 13 ft sculptures were displayed in the forecourt (Burlington Gardens).
Parasite. The three meter square painting was exhibited inside.
The Tate Britain.
October 2008 - January 2009. London. UK
Antony Micallef along with Paula Rego
and Mark Hearld were invited to take part in the 50th anniversary celebration of the famous Curwen Studios. To commemorate the occasion they exhibited a special limited edition lithograph print in the Tate Britain
(Goodison Room).
Santa's Ghetto Bethlehem. Manger Square.
December 2007. Palestine.
Micallef participated in Santa's Ghetto in Bethlehem
, a group show with over 30 international artists that raised almost $1 million to provide funding for local students attending Dar a-Kalima College, the only dedicated arts university
in the Middle East. From this exhibition Micallef produced a body of work documenting his time spent behind the wall.
Impure Idols. Solo Exhibition.
September 2007. Hollywood. L.A.
Micallef's first solo show Stateside took place on Hollywood Boulevard
and sold over 50 paintings in under two hours to international buyers including a host of celebrities and major art collectors.
Millenaris Park.
July 14 - August 30, 2005. Budapest. Hungary.
Micallef represented the UK in an international exhibition looking at urban
counterculture
, held in Budapest, Hungary in 2005. Micallef was invited by the directors of Millenaris Park, a government-funded arts organization to paint on a Trabant
car, the icon of the communist
era.
It's a Wonderful World. Solo Exhibition.
October6 – November 4, 2006. London. UK
Sell out show at the Lazarides Gallery in Greek Street
. The first solo show for Micallef in London.
National Academy of Fine Arts. Solo Exhibition.
September 2005. Sofia. Bulgaria.
Antony Micallef hosts the biggest international solo exhibition in the most prestigious place in the country. Invited by Magazine One and sponsored by Global and Mini Cooper.
Eyestorm Milan. Solo Exhibition.
January 2006. Milan . Italy.
Antony Micallef presents a sell-out solo exhibition in the heart of Milan, Italy. The exhibition showcases a series of specially commissioned limited edition lithograph prints. As well as being exhibited in Milan the prints were also on show at the British Embassy in Florence
alongside Damien Hirst
, Peter Blake
, and Richard Davidson
.
The National Portrait Gallery.
June 2000. London. UK
Antony Micallef wins second prize in the BP Portrait Award competition the first time he enters. This is seen as the catalyst for his future career.
Internationally acclaimed artist Antony Micallef appeared on the art scene in 2000, winning second prize in the BP Portrait Award competition. Since then his mix of political imagery fused with contemporary
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
expressionism
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
has won him world wide acclaim. Recent exhibitions include group shows at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and the Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
.
Collectors of his work include Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
and Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
and a handful of Hollywood’s young, bright and beautiful. His paintings examine our relationship with consumerism and branding among other things. His work concerns itself with what he sees as the ‘frivolities’ of pop culture in a process that’s been dubbed ‘critical pop’.
Art
Born in Swindon, England and a graduate in Fine Arts from the University of PlymouthUniversity of Plymouth
Plymouth University is the largest university in the South West of England, with over 30,000 students and is 9th largest in the United Kingdom by total number of students . It has almost 3,000 staff...
, some of Micallef's work illustrates many contemporary cultural aspects and connects them with the human experience. His use of neutral colors and depictions of the human form delve beyond pop culture and bring to the surface many of the things that operate underneath the cultural construct. Aspects of Micallef's work examines our dichotomous relationship with consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, questioning how we can despise multi-national brands yet still allow ourselves to be seduced by them. He frequently uses the union of two opposites to make an intriguing chemistry. Micallef's practice has been summarized as 'critical pop', exposing the darker side of our consumerist society and the human condition
Human condition
The human condition encompasses the experiences of being human in a social, cultural, and personal context. It can be described as the irreducible part of humanity that is inherent and not connected to gender, race, class, etc. — a search for purpose, sense of curiosity, the inevitability of...
.
His painting style has been compared to Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon (painter)
Francis Bacon , was an Irish-born British figurative painter known for his bold, austere, graphic and emotionally raw imagery. Bacon's painterly but abstract figures typically appear isolated in glass or steel geometrical cages set against flat, nondescript backgrounds...
and is seen as an amalgamation of influences from the old masters such as Caravaggio
Caravaggio
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian artist active in Rome, Naples, Malta, and Sicily between 1593 and 1610. His paintings, which combine a realistic observation of the human state, both physical and emotional, with a dramatic use of lighting, had a formative influence on the Baroque...
and Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
to more modern contemporary photographers and graphic artists. His depiction of the human body and mark making echo his teachings from John Virtue
John Virtue
John Virtue was born in Accrington, Lancashire in 1947 to become an English artist who specialises in monochrome landscapes. He is honorary Professor of Fine Art at the University of Plymouth, and from 2003–2005 was the sixth Associate Artist at London's National Gallery.Virtue trained at the...
, a former student of Frank Auerbach
Frank Auerbach
Frank Helmut Auerbach is a painter born in Germany although he has been a naturalised British citizen since 1947.-Biography:Auerbach was born in Berlin, the son of Max Auerbach, a patent lawyer, and Charlotte Nora Burchardt, who had trained as an artist...
. The rawness of expressionistic painterly
Painterly
Painterliness is a translation of the German term , a word popularized by Swiss art historian Heinrich Wölfflin in order to help focus, enrich and standardize the terms being used by art historians of his time to characterize works of art...
marks is a stark contrast to the more graphic elements which surfaces throughout his work.
From 18 June 2007 Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
catalogue:
Artist Statement
Key Exhibitions
Tunnel 228.May 2009. London. UK
Antony Micallef participates in Tunnel 228, a show featuring over 20 artists and the theatre company Punchdrunk
Punchdrunk
Punchdrunk is a British theatre company, formed in 2000, the pioneer of a form of "immersive" presentation in which the audience is free to choose what to watch and where to go. This format is related to "promenade theatre"....
. A Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
-inspired exhibition with a mixture of art and live performance by actors. Located in the tunnels off Leak Street underneath Waterloo Station
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
and directed by Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, CBE is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and crooner. He grew up in California, and began his career as a stage actor during the 1980s, before being cast in supporting roles in film and television...
.
The Royal Academy.
1 November 2008 to Jan 19, 2009. London. UK
Antony Micallef was invited by the RA to take part in a group show showcasing new contemporaries. The 4 bronze, nickel plated 13 ft sculptures were displayed in the forecourt (Burlington Gardens).
Parasite. The three meter square painting was exhibited inside.
The Tate Britain.
October 2008 - January 2009. London. UK
Antony Micallef along with Paula Rego
Paula Rego
Paula Rego is a painter born in Portugal although she is a naturalised British citizen.-Biography:Rego was born in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, the daughter of an electrical engineer who worked for the Marconi Company. Although this gave her a comfortable middle class home, the family was...
and Mark Hearld were invited to take part in the 50th anniversary celebration of the famous Curwen Studios. To commemorate the occasion they exhibited a special limited edition lithograph print in the Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
(Goodison Room).
Santa's Ghetto Bethlehem. Manger Square.
December 2007. Palestine.
Micallef participated in Santa's Ghetto in Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
, a group show with over 30 international artists that raised almost $1 million to provide funding for local students attending Dar a-Kalima College, the only dedicated arts university
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
in the Middle East. From this exhibition Micallef produced a body of work documenting his time spent behind the wall.
Impure Idols. Solo Exhibition.
September 2007. Hollywood. L.A.
Micallef's first solo show Stateside took place on Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
and sold over 50 paintings in under two hours to international buyers including a host of celebrities and major art collectors.
Millenaris Park.
July 14 - August 30, 2005. Budapest. Hungary.
Micallef represented the UK in an international exhibition looking at urban
Urban culture
Urban culture is the culture of towns and cities. In the United States, Urban culture may also sometimes be used as a euphemistic reference to contemporary African American culture.- African American culture :...
counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
, held in Budapest, Hungary in 2005. Micallef was invited by the directors of Millenaris Park, a government-funded arts organization to paint on a Trabant
Trabant
The Trabant is a car that was produced by former East German auto maker VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerke Zwickau in Zwickau, Sachsen. It was the most common vehicle in East Germany, and was also exported to countries both inside and outside the communist bloc...
car, the icon of the communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
era.
It's a Wonderful World. Solo Exhibition.
October6 – November 4, 2006. London. UK
Sell out show at the Lazarides Gallery in Greek Street
Greek Street
Greek Street is a street in Soho, London, leading south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue. The street is famous for its restaurants and cosmopolitan nature.-History:...
. The first solo show for Micallef in London.
National Academy of Fine Arts. Solo Exhibition.
September 2005. Sofia. Bulgaria.
Antony Micallef hosts the biggest international solo exhibition in the most prestigious place in the country. Invited by Magazine One and sponsored by Global and Mini Cooper.
Eyestorm Milan. Solo Exhibition.
January 2006. Milan . Italy.
Antony Micallef presents a sell-out solo exhibition in the heart of Milan, Italy. The exhibition showcases a series of specially commissioned limited edition lithograph prints. As well as being exhibited in Milan the prints were also on show at the British Embassy in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
alongside Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst
Damien Steven Hirst is an English artist, entrepreneur and art collector. He is the most prominent member of the group known as the Young British Artists , who dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. He is internationally renowned, and is reportedly Britain's richest living artist,...
, Peter Blake
Peter Blake
Peter Blake may refer to:*Peter Blake , British pop artist*Peter Blake , New Zealand yachtsman*Peter Blake Scottish-born actor...
, and Richard Davidson
Richard Davidson
Richard J. Davidson is professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-Early life and Education:Born in Brooklyn, Richard "Richie" Davidson attended Midwood High School...
.
The National Portrait Gallery.
June 2000. London. UK
Antony Micallef wins second prize in the BP Portrait Award competition the first time he enters. This is seen as the catalyst for his future career.