Michael O’Guinn

B. 1986

Artist Satement
O’Guinn is a neo-expressionist artist who blends the emotive force of the 50’s and 60’s Expressionist movement with a distinct contemporary urban touch. Having transitioned from photography to painting in the last decade, O’Guinn’s work is characterized by spontaneous decisions that reflect emotions and musical influences he channels into each piece. O’Guinn draws heavily from the music that moves him, allowing genres ranging from punk and grunge to underground hip-hop to permeate his canvases.

O’Guinn considers big emotions as he works and often incorporates juxtapositions like fluidity/bold or chaos/structure into his paintings. Merging seemingly opposing visual elements to create something with balance is an underlying theme to much of O’Guinn’s work. Reflecting on the ideas discussed by art critic Jerry Saltz in his recent book, O’Guinn strives to convey deep, raw truths through his art, which he refers to as "glimpses,” much like the evocative expressions found in performances of icons like Billie Holiday, Kurt Cobain or Jeff Buckley. O’Guinn recognizes that art itself (particularly abstract art) does not cure the world’s problems, but it’s O’Guinn’s belief that those glimpses of vulnerability or raw moments put onto a canvas are symbolic of being able to really see each others’ experience and connect with something on a human level. That’s where the meaning comes in.

CV

B. 1986
2008 - Bachelor of Arts, Univ. California, Santa Barbara

Representation:
Kostuik Gallery (Vancouver, BC)
Mosaic Architecture (Santa Barbara, Denver; St. Helena; San Francisco)
Boyd Gallery, Dubai
Benjamin Eck Gallery, Munich

Exhibitions:
Mosaic Architecture Gallery - Group show with Will Day and Joey Vaiasuso
In the Zone - 10 West Gallery (July to September, 2023
Untitled - 10 West Gallery (December 2023 to Jan. 2024)
Atmospheric Conditions - 10 West Gallery (February to March 2024)
Sawleaf (Solo Exhibition) - Helena Mason Gallery April 2024
Group Show - Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC July 2024
Untitled - 10 West Gallery (May to July 2024)
Group Show - Kostuik Gallery, Toronto, September 2025
Untitled - 10 West Gallery (September to November 2024)Sweet Imagination - 10 West Gallery (February to March, 2025)
Benjamin Eck Gallery - Art Lab May 2025; finalist for jury prize
Shannon Scott Design/Architecture, solo show; June 5 - July 3, 2025
Upcoming Solo - September 17 to October 2025, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC

Upcoming Solo - Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver BC (September to October, 2025)

Publications:

Randoom Magazine - https://www.raandoom.com/our-blog/michael-oguinn
Canvas Rebel Magazine - https://canvasrebel.com/meet-michael-oguinn/
Flying Fruit Bowl - Scheduled October 2023
Santa Barbara Indpendent, Santa Barbara Design Firm Featuring Six Artists in New Gallery, Bethany Oh, April 5, 2023
Chronicles of Creativity: The Ever-Evolving Dynamic Artistry of Michael Oguinn March 2025 - https://www.jlinterviews.com/chronicles-of-creativity-the-ever-evolving-dynamic-artistry-of-michael-oguinn/