Introduce Artist
Michael Ananian
Michael Ananian was an oil painter before he turned to digital painting. Since he began painting digitally three years ago, he has not picked up a traditional paintbrush. He uses a Cintiq 24 Pro Wacom tablet connected to a MacBook Pro. Essentially, he still works from perception, the only change is that he uses photographic references instead of live models and landscapes. The four digital paintings he submitted are part of a series exploring cosmology, inspired by ancient Greek creation stories and theogony.
Artwork
Melencholia II
Durer’s famous lithograph inspired sequel to Melancholia II
The work "Hemera" represents the primal force "Day" in Ancient Greece and tells the story of darkness, Rebus, male and night, Nyx, female entities, and the romantic feelings that led to the birth of Hemera; Hemera remains a non-anthropomorphic force in the work.
Hemera
Mother of the Muses is about the interrelationship of dreams and spirituality, and their interplay as a tug-of-war between memory and oblivion.
Mother of the Muses
Deep Wine-Colored Sea further explores these ideas, which are related to the ancient Greek ideas about the role of the planets in the creation of life stages.
Wine Dark Sea
Exhibition Experience
2023
SoloS – 11th Annual International Solo Exhibition Online, Exhibizone, Canada
2019
The Andrews Gallery, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
2016
Smith Family Gallery, Zarrow Center, University of Tulsa School of Art, Tulsa, OK
2015
Martin Art Gallery, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
2014
St. Claude Gallery, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Derryberry Gallery, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN
2009
McCarthy Gallery, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
2008
Alice & William Jenkins Gallery, Winter Park, FL
2007
Eleanor D. Wilson Museum, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
List Gallery, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
The Andrews Gallery, The College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA
2003
St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA
2002
William Carey College on the Coast, Gulfport, MS
2001
Hackett/Freedman Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1999
Halsey Gallery, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
Community Council for the Arts, Kinston, NC
1998
Lyons Wier Gallery, Chicago, IL
Hollins University, Roanoke, VA
1996
Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA
Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
Central Piedmont Community College Art Gallery, Charlotte, NC
1995
First Street Gallery, New York, NY