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Michael Wilkinson is the pre-eminent figurative sculptor working in clear acrylic today. Represented in private and corporate collections world-wide – with literally thousands of collectors – he has created a body of work known for its unique beauty and universal appeal. Wilkinson was born and grew up in northern California. From his early years, his aptitude for art attracted special notice. He was selected as the single student from his high school class to be admitted to an art honors program, where he received private instruction on art theory and application. Graduating from high school at the height of the Vietnam War, he joined the Air Force and was assigned to Tokyo, Japan, as an illustrator. He discovered and studied sumi brush painting, Japanese architecture and calligraphy. The harmony and simple elegance of the Japanese esthetic made an impression on the young artist that would become integral to his esthetic sensibility. After receiving an honorable discharge from the military, Wilkinson earned a degree in architectural engineering at California State University at San Luis Obispo. He moved to Carmel, California, where he worked briefly for the architect, Olof Dahlstrand, and made sculpture in his studio at night. In 1979 he took an extended trip to Europe, studying the works of the great masters of ancient Greece and the Renaissance. On his return, he moved to New York City, took a day job, studied at the Art Students League and The New York Academy of Art, and began to work seriously as a sculptor. By 1982 he had created a collection of bronze sculptures. Portrait commission work followed while he continued to build his bronze collection. In 1984 he discovered clear acrylic, finding in its optical properties new possibilities for conveying the ideas central to his art. From the time he realized that acrylic offered a new opportunity for artistic and philosophical expression, there has been a progression not only in his art, but also in the acceptance of acrylic. It is now on the level of bronze as collectible and museum-worthy. Wilkinson has occasionally lent his expertise to related endeavors. The Salmagundi Club in New York City invited him to judge the sculpture entries in the annual juried show. He has lectured on his sculpture philosophy, technique and esthetics. Most recently, he gave a sculpture appreciation lecture/tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. With international shows and numerous one-man gallery exhibitions, in two decades Michael Wilkinson has become one of the prominent sculptors of our time, creating beautiful and powerful works unique in the history of art. ARTIST’S STATEMENT: Art has always moved my soul. Whether it is the heroic grandeur of Michelangelo’s David, the love of a man for a woman as in Rodin’s The Eternal Idol, or the radiant world depicted in the sparkling drawings of Frank Lloyd Wright; art has always affirmed and fueled my deepest beliefs about the beauty of life. When working, I am always mindful of the maxim, “The greater a work of art, the more universal its meaning.” I strive to create imagery based on broad themes that are universally understood, yet may inspire a deeply personal response in each individual. For me, realism is the most accessible kind of art, especially when it portrays the human form. At the same time, realism is the most difficult to create, especially when it portrays the human form. But, in my experience, realistic portrayal of the human form is the most deeply satisfying, for it is unmatched in expression of emotion and psychological insight. My acrylic sculptures are a blend of figurative and abstract forms, a wonderful fusion that I enjoy creating and to which acrylic is beautifully suited. Acrylic is a truly modern material and working with it is like working with no other medium. I start out with clay, a lump of earth, but end up having created an ethereal world infused by light. A wonderful aspect of acrylic sculpture is that it is clear and has an interior: a “fourth dimension” that allows the viewer to look into the artwork. This characteristic offers the greatest challenge in working with the material because the original sculpture model is opaque clay or plaster. While creating the model, I must envision through the plaster what is going on inside the work -- the reflections and refractions as they will appear in the final clear artwork. This is the most difficult aspect of my acrylic art, but when I get it right it is the most satisfying. I am an architect by training and I have always been fascinated by the surroundings people live in – their worlds. The interior of an acrylic is a light-filled world that makes it possible for me to tell stories in space and time, in which my figures come alive. The men and women I create are conscious in their lives and have the power to make their dreams a reality. I hope that collectors see and appreciate this. I believe art should uplift the human spirit, show us what is possible. That is why I seek the ideal in my art; the ideal illuminates our potentialities and acts as an affirmation of the best within us. February 2008