Mike Cloud

Mike Cloud is a highly regarded artist known for his boundary-pushing approach to painting, incorporating irregular shapes, sculptural qualities, and collaged elements in his thought-provoking artworks.

Biography of Mike Cloud

Mike Cloud was born in 1974 in Chicago, IL, USA. After completing his studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Cloud's passion for artistic exploration led him to further his education and pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree at Yale University, which he successfully attained in 2003. Presently, Cloud holds the esteemed position of Assistant Professor at the renowned School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Mike Cloud's art style

Mike Cloud is known for his distinctive artistic approach, which involves constructing irregularly shaped canvases. With a keen focus on the relationship between the frame and the painted surface, he seamlessly merges these elements through sculptural strategies, creating a cohesive and woven whole. 

Over the last two decades, Cloud's painting practice has undergone a notable transformation, marked by a significant shift in materials and techniques. His exploration of symbols, canvas shapes, colors, and surfaces has expanded, leading to a dynamic evolution in his artistic approach.

Exhibitions of Mike Cloud

Works on Paper 2003 - Present

In his series "Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph" (2003), Cloud employs readily available materials such as cardboard as backing and store-bought stretchers, combining them with collages that he staples into the stretchers. By cutting out segments of body parts from Diane Arbus's book, also titled "Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph," Cloud arranges them into "archetypes," with each piece titled after the source photograph. 

As Cloud progressed in his artistic practice, he sought a new approach to display that would merge the separate elements into a cohesive whole. This led to his "Paper Quilts" series (2010). In this series, Cloud glues identical pages from two Annie Leibovitz photobooks back to back, creating quilts. These quilts are then hung from the ceiling, challenging the traditional perception of quilts as "craft" rather than fine art. By coloring the glue he uses, Cloud makes his handiwork visible as an integral part of the artwork’s aesthetic value.

Quilt Painting

In the captivating exhibition "Quilt Painting," Mike Cloud masterfully renders his images in a child's messy and unencumbered hand, establishing a compelling relationship between the commercially oriented imagery of clothing and the expressive nature of a child's vivid imagination.  While the clothing evokes sentiments of innocence and playfulness, Cloud's depersonalized mark-making and relationship to the material (as these are not his children's clothing) introduce an objective, yet conflicted space of social relevance.

Artistic Achievements and Recognition

Cloud's artistic achievements have been widely recognized and celebrated. His work has been showcased at renowned venues that include MoMA P.S.1, Marianne Boesky Gallery, White Columns, Max Protetch, Apexart, and more. In addition to his solo exhibitions, Cloud has made significant contributions to group shows,  such as "Frequency" at the Studio Museum in Harlem and Honor Fraser Gallery.

Cloud's artistic contributions have been recognized with various prestigious awards and residencies. He was honored with the inaugural Chiaro Award from the esteemed Headlands Center for the Arts in California. In addition, Cloud received a distinguished New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, a highly respected grant that supports exceptional artists in their creative endeavors.

He has had the privilege of being a resident artist at the Meulensteen Art Centre in the Netherlands. Additionally, Cloud participated in the prestigious Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program in New York.