ARTIST STATEMENT
My first painting studio was located in a building adjacent to a federal Superfund site. The area had once been used as a landfill by the U.S. Navy. But by the time I saw it, this landscape had become a flat expanse of tall grass, surrounded by a razor wire fence. Scattered across this enormous field were mysterious white pipes, protruding from the ground. I assumed these were meant to ventilate whatever lay entombed below. The area felt ominous - like a graveyard. I used to wonder what was buried there, and whether I risked my health being in proximity to such a toxic place. Thinking about these concerns eventually led me to contemplate our broader impact upon the world. I was already acutely aware of our society’s appetite for rampant consumption from my prior employment as a retoucher for print advertising. But this highly toxic landfill was clear evidence of how a lack of foresight could result in significant environmental damage.
For over twenty years I have created artwork that examines the underlying forces that drive our industrialized society. I am intrigued by what motivates our collective pursuits, and how our actions may affect our future viability. I seek to question the rationale behind our choices as a society, and try to reveal the dichotomy that may exist between what we desire, and what we in turn manifest. For example, I examine issues like hyper-consumerism, climate change, and other ecological threats. My paintings are intended as allegories about our world, and visions of our possible future. I attempt to distill what I see happening today, to hopefully allow others a means to understand what could await us tomorrow. And although my paintings can sometimes be as sobering as they are thought-provoking, I use luscious colors and intricate detail to lure the eye. I want to entice my viewer and invite them to contemplate the salient themes within my work.
Michael Kerbow is a San Francisco-based artist who works in a variety of media including painting, drawing, assemblage, and digitally-manipulated photography. He received his MFA from Pratt Institute in New York. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has appeared in multiple publications. He has been twice nominated for SFMOMA’s prestigious SECA award.