Photos by: Jesse Ly

Illusion, repetition and mystery are the themes in Stillion’s latest work. With an interest in the compressed spaces of early renaissance paintings and Japanese prints Stillion organizes his invented still lifes to exist on a surface that seemingly yearns for dimension. To satisfy this need for space he has begun to experiment with attaching the paintings to other paintings to enhance the illusion of perspective. Using inspiration from Lizzo’s “Scuse Me” lyrics the repetition of three colors - Yellow, Pink, Purple, Purple, Yellow, Pink, Pink, Purple, Yellow - help connect the paintings allowing them to be consistently different. Flower filled glass vases with faces are intended to eventually come into focus, enhancing the artists exploration into the mystery of making something teeter on invisible and applying personality to inanimate objects.

Michael Stillion received his BFA from the Columbus College of Art and Design and his MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington. Michael is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor at Miami University where he teaches painting and drawing. His honors include being twice awarded an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, a Joan Mitchell full fellowship to the Vermont Studio Center and a full year fellowship to the Roswell Artist in Residence. His work has also been exhibited in venues such as the Columbus Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Roswell Museum of Art, Marshall University, Linda Warren Projects, Chicago and Art Chicago.