Mike Knapp

Michael Knapp 1956 – present

Tampa native. Studied at HCC and USF.

Primary discipline: Painter

Medium: Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Studied fine art at Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida.

Former advertising artist for large supermarket chain, sign painter and free-lance artist, exhibit designer, set painter and current resident artist for Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, Florida.

Artistic Philosophy: Combine unusual objects in a collage style so that they tell a different story. The sum is greater than the parts. I usually use objects or people from the Mid 20^th century to create a nostalgic “history lesson” of sorts. Bright, pure colors are used throughout the works to form an “unreal” reality on each canvas.

I often times use optical patterns for backgrounds to help create a genre I call “Pop-Op”. My works are all the exact same size. When shown together the same dimensions of each canvas offers a bit of stability and order into the chaos created by the imagery on the canvas.

Many awards received at various sidewalk shows including several first place painting awards, many second place overall ribbons, and a variety of awards of merit, honorable mentions and purchase awards.

Included in Tampa Museum of Art triennial show.

Participant in countless juried group shows all over Florida with many ribbons awarded.

Featured artist in several juried group shows in the Tampa/ St. Pete area.

Work included in both personal and business collections throughout the United States.

FL

United States