Featuring abstract figurative paintings and mixed-media sculptures, Words Fail Me will be on display from September 18, 2009 through October 10, 2009. A reception for the artist will be held on Friday, September 18th, 2009 from 7 to 10 pm.



Utilizing a mix of ink, colored pencil, paint and lacquer, Mike Stilkey's work features a melancholic and at times whimsical cast of characters, with an aesthetic reminiscent of Weimer-era German expressionism. Inhabiting an ambiguous environment, his subjects convey a lingering sense of loss and longing.

Stilkey reaches beyond the formal confines of painting and drawing, using such materials as record covers, book pages and book covers to create the spaces in which his characters exist. The artist's work melds the visual world with the literal. Examining the limitations and interchangeability of the communicative process, Stilkey's work reinvents the canvas to push boundaries between words, visual art and music.



In addition to his body of work, Stilkey will be creating a large-scale installation for Words Fail Me. This sculpture will bring the artist's goal of intertwining the visual, literary and musical full circle.
Los Angeles Native Mike Stilkey's work has been exhibited in art fairs and galleries throughout the world, including exhibitions in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Switzerland.



Get more info at www.davidbsmithgallery.com.