Michael Lavelle

I was born in Sioux City, IA where I graduated from Central High School and went on to attend undergraduate studies at Mount Marty College in Yankton, SD. It was there that I met my wife, Mary.

I then went on to pursue education certification at the University of South Dakota. After a four-year career of teaching, we opened our first retail gallery in Sioux Falls SD. Shortly after, we moved the hub of our business to Omaha NE.

During this period of time, up until 2007, I designed, opened and consequently sold eight Art Plus Studio Stores across the
Midwest while operating our Omaha based ‘Art Plus Galleries’.
Offered services to the community including multi-cultural
exhibits through the public school system and minority artist presentations.

I exhibited my own oil paintings locally and through a gallery in New York City's ‘So-Ho’district. I am currently exhibiting with the Artists of Iowa and the Clear Lake Fine Art Center as well as R&G Gallery in Council Bluffs Iowa.

In 2004 we sold the business and I then joined my wife, Mary, in my present career in Real Estate.

Mary and I moved to Algona, Iowa in 2007 for the opportunity to purchase the Real Estate firm of Algona Realty.

More recently I established an artists exhibition and reception event program of five to eight shows a year for the Stinson Prairie Arts Council of Kossuth County which I was the Chairperson for the past five years..

My artist statement is as follows:
As an artist I use the visual language of form, color and line to create a composition most commonly known as abstract art, with bold use of color and expression to create a new visual. I paint almost exclusively with pallet knives directly mixing paint on canvas. I also use layering of form and color to create an underlying visual form, sometimes not quite as abstract.

I rely on the spontaneity of the application of paint to aid in my efforts to direct a painting’s development. The avenue of my expression includes the nature of our own dual existence as human beings. It is fascinating for me to consider that the physical university actually frames and defines the non-physical universe and vise versa. It is the coming together of these two worlds that I hope to bring to you through my art.




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