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In paintings, drawings and prints, Professor Michael Rich explores the beauty and irascibility of the New England landscape through an approach to painting that is visceral, physical and colorful.  Often working in large scale, his work is abstract in its appearance, owing much to the painterly language of the American abstractionists of the mid-to late 20th century. However, one can see overt references to the sea and sky, weather and light. Professor Rich is interested in natural forces and finding some approximation of those forces in color and mark of paint.

In the studio, Professor Rich views the processes of painting and drawing as means of self-discovery, an approach that directly informs his teaching.  He challenges himself and his students to find their authentic mark, bringing their own voice to their work while keeping an eye on the history of the medium.  An accomplished printmaker as well, Rich works with the graphic processes of intaglio and woodcut.

Professor Rich exhibits his work internationally, most recently at the Grand Palais in Paris for Art Capital as well as other recent exhibitions in Madrid, Spain and Bologna, Italy. Recent museum exhibitions include The 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× Art Museum and The Newport Art Museum, in Rhode Island and the Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville Arkansas.  His work is featured in many private and public collections nationally including, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, NY; Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA and the Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield, OH. 

Michael Rich

Art by Associate Professor of Art Michael Rich