Mike Pavol

“Now is a good time to meditate.”

Mike Pavol came to Philadelphia from Phoenix, AZ in 1988, having earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech, University in 1986. His early artwork was influenced by Modernism and punk rock.  Some encounters with other artists helped him find his own voice as an artist. While taking night classes at Fleischer Art Memorial and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, he fell under the influence of Chris Lafuente’s enthusiastic pursuit of observation and paint. In 2002 a show of Edwin Dickinson’s work, and the variety of routes he explored, encouraged Mike to include all of his concerns and ideas as a painter, designer, and person. Also, prompted by a brief meeting with John Cage, he began to understand that letting the leftovers and the unintended be as important as the target were important to his perception and work. Instead of viewing himself as an automaton that channeled unedited visual information, he began making choices and decisions on how and what to paint. Mike became less concerned with displaying a cohesive artistic philosophy or perceived consistency, and more with using his experience, intuition, and curiosity to provide a direction, while allowing the internal logic and rules of the individual painting to present boundaries and limits that could be respected or violated. This proved to be a positive approach, as he has produced enough art to mount three solo shows of his work at the Da Vinci Art Alliance. 

Biography:

I came to Philadelphia from Phoenix AZ in 1988 with a head full of Modernism (BA Arch., Va Tech 1986), punk rock and youthful stabs at art, all of which barely co-habitated. While taking night classed at Fleischer and PAFA, I fell under the influence of Chris Lafuente, and her enthusiastic pursuit of observation and paint. I plunged in, enjoying the challenge and direction, though slightly concerned where all this was headed. In 2002, a show of Edwin Dickinson’s work, and the variety of routes he explored gave me the nudge I needed to include all of my concerns and ideas as a painter, designer and person. Also, letting the leftovers and the unintended be as important as the target, prompted by a brief meeting with John Cage, began to leach into my perception and work. Less was I an automaton that channeled unedited visual information (former ideal) and more was I a guy making decisions and choices on how and what to paint. I became less concerned with displaying a cohesive artistic philosophy or perceived consistency, and more with using my experience, intuition, and curiosity to give a direction, while the internal logic and rules of the individual painting provide boundaries and limits, that can be respected or violated. And I have mounted three solo shows of my work at the DVAA. Yikes!