Michael A. pierce
American Rabbit
I finished this rabbit on the first day of 2024. I started it in 2017 and put it aside, not being able to figure out how to finish it. Seven years later, I looked at it with different eyes. The title and the passage in the text on the piece comes from a Neil Young song which Sufjan Stevens did a cover on in 2023 on his album Javelin.
there’s a world you’re living in (2024), oil pastels, graphite, gold leaf, and rubber stamping on synthetic paper, 40 x 40” (unframed), $2,500
in the morning, in the evening. (2023), oil pastels, oil stick, graphite, and rubber stamping on paper, framed 19 x 34”, $1,000
we are touched by the sun (black rabbits) - U RAB B02 (2020), oil pastels, graphite, spray paint, rubber stamping on latex house paint-gessoed paper, framed 24 x 24”, $650
like all creatures (black rabbit) - U RAB B01 (2020), oil pastels, graphite, rubber stamping on latex house paint-gessoed paper, 16 x 16”, SOLD
we are touched by the moon (black rabbits) - U RAB B03 (2020), oil pastels, graphite, spray paint, rubber stamping on latex house paint-gessoed paper, framed 24 x 24”, $650
GOLPILZ - FOX 022 (2020), oil pastels, graphite, rubber stamping on latex house paint-gessoed synthetic paper, framed 16 x 16”, $400
U RAB 02 - SMELL (2020), oil pastels, graphite on latex house paint-gessoed paper, framed 21.75 x 21.75”, $700.
untitled (2019), silk screen and gold leaf on paper, framed 12 x 12”, SOLD
Im as blue Im as blue as the ocean is true (2023), oil sticks, oil pastels, graphite, gold leaf and rubber stamping on latex house paint gessoed synthetic paper, framed 29 x 29”, $1,200
am I right am I wrong (2023), oil pastels, graphite, and rubber stamping on paper, framed 19 x 19”, $500
touch Kiki (2023), oil pastels, graphite, and rubber stamping on paper, framed 19 x 19”, $500
note to self don’t change for anyone (2023), oil pastels, graphite, and rubber stamping on paper, framed 25 x 25”, $750
mon mari (2017), oil pastels, graphite, latex paint, glitter, and rubber stamping on synthetic paper, framed 24 x 24”, $600
she has never liked red hair (2006), oil pastels and graphite on paper, framed 24 x 24”, $500
only- from the only thing (2018 – 2023), oil pastels, graphite, glitter, rubber stamping on latex painted gessoed synthetic paper, framed 24 x 24”, $650
the eight of them lived in a 3-bedroom house on a nice quiet street (2006), oil pastels, graphite on paper, framed 24 x 24”, $500.
so glad we got to see each other (2014), oil pastels, graphite, house paint, rubber stamp on paper, 24 X 24” (unframed), $400
with Michael (2014), oil pastels, graphite, house paint, rubber stamp on paper, 24 X 24” (unframed), $400
look at those subtle hints of contempt (2014), oil pastels, graphite, house paint, rubber stamp on paper, 24 X 24” (unframed), $400
double meta (2014), oil pastels, graphite, house paint, rubber stamp on paper, 24 X 24” (unframed), $400
At fortune’s beck (pink gloves), watercolor, graphite, spray glitter, rubber stamping on paper, framed 14” x 14", $500
They kissed (blue glove), watercolor, graphite, rubber stamping on synthetic paper, framed 20” x 20", $700
Espieglerie (Mischievousness), oil pastel, graphite, glitter, rubber stamp on latex paint gessoed paper, 20” x 20", $500
As early as I can remember I've been drawing. At first I drew mainly on the end-papers of the books--especially that set of encyclopedias my mom and dad got from the traveling salesman. In my teens, I spent Wednesdays during my summers off from school going with my grandmother to the weekly meetings of the Culpeper Art Group. They were doing batik, Japanese sumi painting, splashing enamel paints on old boards, drawing still lifes, doing hard edge abstractions, painting Culpeper's historical buildings before they got torn down, and on and on. I have scrapbooks full of newspaper clippings about these old ladies.
In the early '70s I got involved in the Floyd Avenue Cultural Center, a group of artists making movies, creating happenings, etc. In the '70s and early '80s I took staged and found-object photographs and created slideshows to entertain guests invited to my home. I also used some of these slideshows as backdrops for bands playing music at Little Sisters of the Poor. In the mid-80s I met John Morgan and began using oil pastels. At first I drew mainly food, rabbits, and people.
Between 1991 and 2000 I basically stopped making art. I was tired of people asking me to draw their pets or their portraits. Ron, my partner of over 40 years now, and I bought our first house together. Instead of art making, I channeled my creativity into the house, my relationship, and into my day-job in human resources. In early 2000 I began drawing men--mainly men kissing other men. I believe it's important for people to see men kissing. We have Rodin's kiss, and it's a man and woman naked in embrace and kissing. But we don't have images of men kissing.