Michael Ahles

Artist’s Statement

“Art must be two things. Beautiful and representational. Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder. Representation simply follows the rule that art cannot be life and life cannot be art.”
     Michael Ahles

A new artist is emerging from simple and minimalistic beginnings with common sense laced throughout. Who says art has to be highbrow and obtuse? The best art is always powerful, but seldom does it need the blessings of the critics in order to have popular or even emotional appeal. Has good art been replaced with the commodity of the "ordained" genius? Art is traded and negotiated with all the vigor of precious metals or stocks and bonds. Or else is it pandered by fanatics whose causes are pushed forward by the mere acceptance of the art involved. (Think Maplethorpe here.) Good art does not need to scream its arrival on the stock ticker or shock its viewers into submissiveness through carnival-style gallery owners telling us what we should believe. Heck, I like it because I like it (beauty). I like it because it reminds me of …..(representation).

Introducing the 2007 color studies of Michael Ahles. Spring Rain Peacock, Jamaican Finch, Blue Jay Wallcloud, Wood Duck Dusk, Red Rooster Sunrise, and Blackbird Whirlwind. Originally conceived as studies to represent bird feathers and naturally occurring cloud formations, these paintings have taken on a life of their own, as good art often does. People who view them seem delighted at the style, colors, and freedom of the representations as well as the whimsical titles. Modern abstraction is making a comeback.

Michael grew up in St. Paul, MN where he excelled at art at Tartan Sr. High school under the direction of Richard Doolittle, winning the coveted Scholastic Gold Key Award for drawing in 1985. He attended Minneapolis College of Art and Design from 1986-1990 majoring in Graphic Design, visual communications.