St Louis, 2015

Michael Staniak: IMG_

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, May 1 - June 28

In seas of blue, gradients of green and fields of purple, Michael Staniak’s regard planes of colour and texture speak to more than surface and hyper-saturation. These alien landscapes engage directly with our ultra-digital age. Simultaneous embracing and critiquing technology, Staniak’s paintings embed code within their craters and peaks, weaving the language of machines within the fabric of artistic creation. These works evoke the newest incarnation of tromp l’oeil; while appearing to be digitally manufactured, they are rather made predominantly by hand.

Elegantly organised by Chief Curator Jeffrey Uslip, Michael Staniak: IMG_ presents paintings from three distinct bodies of work: IMG, PNG, and DATA, providing us with a comprehensive survey of the artist’s oeuvre to date and a look into the evolution of his practice.

This excerpt, originally written by Executive Director of CAM St. Louis Lisa Melandri, was transcribed and edited from the forward of the exhibition catalogue Michael Staniak: IMG_.