Michael Kessler

Quick facts

  • Art period: Contemporary
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Color intensity: monochromatic
  • Top 3 works:
    • Guardians
    • Untitled, 88
  • Typical colors: neutrals
  • Nationality: United States

The Artistic Evolution of Michael Kessler

Michael Kessler is an American painter whose creative journey began with landscape painting. During his undergraduate years at Kutztown University, he was awarded a fellowship from the Whitney Museum of American Art to study and produce art in New York City through the Whitney Independent Study Program. This period allowed him to encounter various artists working in New York City. His work eventually transitioned into a fully non-objective style.

Kessler's paintings are characterized by large fields of diaphanous color. These colors are activated by organic linear structures that are visually and physically woven into a grid structure composed of thick slabs of paint. These organic linear structures are overlapped and punctuated by dendritic growth patterns. Through prolonged observation, Kessler extracts color combinations and visual elements from nature, reconstructing them to transmit the dynamics of the natural world and synthesize disparate elements into a new kind of harmony.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Since 1983, Kessler's paintings have been featured in over two hundred exhibitions across the United States and Europe. His work has been showcased in numerous solo exhibitions, including five shows at the Jack Tilton Gallery in New York City and a solo exhibition at the Ann Korologos Gallery in Basalt, Colorado. Other exhibition venues have included Gallery Bienvenu in New Orleans, Louisiana; Madison Gallery in La Jolla, California; Paia Contemporary Gallery in Maui, Hawaii; Schmidt Dean Gallery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lanoue Fine Art in Boston, Massachusetts; Sense Fine Art in Menlo Park, California; Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and the Castellani Art Museum in Niagara Falls, New York.

Kessler's accolades include several prestigious honors:

His paintings are held in 25 museum collections, including the Brooklyn Museum, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Broad Art Foundation in Los Angeles, and the New Museum in New York City. Additionally, Kessler has been involved in large-scale, site-specific installations, including a commission for Senator Arlen Specter's office in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Questions & Answers

Where can I see all artworks by Michael Kessler?

Every work by Michael Kessler on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

Which artworks by Michael Kessler are the most viewed?

Statistics about Michael Kessler's works are available on the artist's Stats page.

Where is Michael Kessler from?

Michael Kessler was born in United States.

Can I browse Michael Kessler's works by color palette?

The By Palettes page groups Michael Kessler's artworks by their color palettes.

Quick quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
In which city did Michael Kessler study at the Whitney Museum of American Art's Independent Study Program?
Question 2:
Which award did Michael Kessler win in 1991?
Question 3:
Which university did Michael Kessler attend to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree?
Question 4:
According to the catalog, which work by Michael Kessler is held in the Buffalo AKG Art Museum?
Question 5:
Which of these artists influenced Kessler's work during his time in New York City?