February 2021

Saints and Superstitions

DECORAZON Gallery is proud to present a new body of work by
Surreal Abstract Narrative artist

MICHELE MIKESELL

Using portraiture and symbolism to discuss the role of superstition and religion within the human experience, Michele Mikesell's newest body of work "Saints and Superstitions" references mythology and fairy tales in the artist's classic and refined style. Each painting incorporates symbols, protectors and guardians while weaving in religious figures with superstitious symbols.

Regardless of subject, Mikesell continues to focus on melding human features with anthropomorphic figures to explore the connectedness between human ideas and animal instinct.

"Because I am living in a medieval village during a pandemic as I painted these, many of the symbols are medieval and are pointed at protection from illness."

"I use many common medieval symbols of protection that have been found across Europe in the carpentry of buildings and churches which include apotropaic burn marks and scratch marks which often included daisy chains (believed that bad spirits would get lost and disoriented by the overlaid circles), VV (Virgin of Virgins), VM (Virgin Mary), and AM (Ave Maria). Other symbols in this body of work are bubbles, which reference stoicism and our fleeting moments here on earth, blessings, smoke, and shiny objects just to name a few..."

"Saint Luke"
Oil on canvas
47x35 inches / 120x90 cm

"Saint Edmund"
Oil on canvas
12x12 inches / 30x30 cm

"Stoicism is another theme found in this show, which simply put, is a philosophy that underlines the idea to live each day to its fullest, acknowledging what is and what is not in our control."

Michele Mikesell gives us further insight into one particular painting:
“Rabbit Rabbit” which portrays Saint Corona (image above), who some believe to be the patron saint of protection against plagues. Others believe she is invoked for issues involving money (as illustrated by her green dress). Her third eye is the Eastern esoteric concept of higher consciousness and enlightenment which I reference to stoicism.

Repeated pattern balancing blocks and spots of color are becoming more aesthetically important while themes of irony, contradiction, humour and tragedy, continue throughout my work. By wiping, scraping and sanding layers of paint, I build up a surface that results in a contrasting yet uniform aesthetic."

Mikesell is an international artist, and has been represented by DECORAZONgallery since 2005. Mikesell's work can be found in many private and corporate collections and have been exhibited on the global art fair stage including, London Art Fair; AQUA Miami; SCOPE Basel, Miami and New York City; Art Santa Fe; and many fairs across USA, Europe and Asia.