About

Michael Wardle was born in Ames, Iowa July 25, 1952. He came from a family of engineers and scientists, but knew at an early age that he wanted to have a career making art. Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University and has been a full time professional artist since 1974.

Mr. Wardle started doing portraiture in the 1970’s, then moved on to figure painting and bronze sculpture in the early 80’s. In 1989 he started dividing his time between traditional and abstract painting, feeling that both disciplines taught him something about the other.

Michael has lived and worked in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Connecticut and New York. In the early 90’s, Michael continued to work more on the abstract paintings and started doing murals for hotels and large homes in Las Vegas, as well as across the U.S. and in Mexico. He has shown in dozen of galleries from coast to coast and participated in numerous group and one-person shows. His work is represented in hundreds of private and public collections across the U.S. and abroad.

In 2002 Michael opened his own gallery in Downtown Las Vegas. From 2008-2019 He worked and lived in a few different Studio spaces and continued to work, develop and experiment with different approaches to the paintings, continueing to sell well to a substantial base of collectors, primarily in the US.

In 2019 Michael moved to the mountains of Northern Thailand. Though semi-retired he manages to get in a few good painting sessions every week, enjoy the freedom to experiment and find new ways of making strokes and getting the paint to the canvas.

Life is good!

Timeline Bio

1952

Born in Ames, Iowa

1964

Growing up in Iowa. This photo of me jumping off the garage into a snowbank (age 12) could be a visual metaphor for my career path; lot’s of taking “Leaps of faith”, making drastic changes in new directions, not knowing before hand if there was a soft place to land.

1969

Stone Memorial Art Scholarship

Awarded to one graduating art student from Ames High School each year

1970

Enrolled as an art major at Brigham Young University

1971 - 1973

Spent two years in Thailand as a missionary in the shadow of the Viet Nam War

1973 - 1977

Attended BYU and started painting portraits, experimenting with other media as well.

Pictured: Danny Medina – 16” x 12” – oil on linen

1977 - 1980

Painted portrait and figure paintings

Married Carolyn – 1978

First Son Marc Born – 1979

Pictured: Adagio – 30” x 20” – oil on linen

1980

Creates first figurative bronze sculptures

Pictured: Jicarilla Footrace – height 20” – bronze

1980 - 1984

Continued with sculpture work

Second Son Brad Born – 1982

Third Son John Born – 1984

Pictured: Patriarch of a Dying Nation – height 21” – bronze

1985

Moved to Scottsdale, Arizona

Continued to do figure paintings. Traveled to New York City to visit museums and galleries – was again moved by works of Abstract Expressionists, particularly the work of Willem deKooning, Jackson Pollock, Fannz Kline and Clifford Still.

Also started working with interior designers and architects doing commissioned pieces for their clients.

Pictured: Dulce – 24” x 16” – oil on linen

1987

Travelled again to New York City

Saw the Frank Stella Retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art- enjoyed his new work and was impressed that he had made such a dramatic change mid-career.

Pictured: Figure Study – 18” x 14” – oil on linen

1989

Father Died

Painted first, heavy abstract paintings, “Watch me Run” and “Monkeys”– started spending as much time as possible on new direction in painting.

Moved to Darien, Connecticut, commuted to studio on LaFayette Street in SoHo, New York City.

Painted New York People series

Pictured: New York People I – 66” x 90” – oil on canvas

Cont.

Torn was a transition piece, leaving traditional painting on the path to abstraction; simultaneously making similar changes in other aspects of my life.

Pictured: Torn – 80” x 96” – 8 canvases bolted together

Cont.

I’d been looking at Van Gogh’s later work, some of which included tangled swirls and circles like in “Starry Night”. Some psychologists and scholars have speculated that this was a manifestation of his insanity. Circles can create “eye traps” in a painting. I was compelled to pierce the edge of the circles with a stroke that will let the viewer “out” of the circle. Perhaps I’m not quite as crazy as Vincent.

Pictured: A Way Out For Vincent – 80” x 110”

1990

Moved to St. George Utah

Felt that though New York was exciting, perhaps it wasn’t the best place to make art.

I still don’t know if I left New York to run away from something or to find something.

Pictured: Debbie’s Violin – 30” x 40” – oil on canvas

1991 - 1992

First one man show of abstract paintings at Dixie College in St. George – 1991

Left Mormon Church – 1992

Pictured: The Ames Branch – 66” x 90”

1993 - 1997

One man show at Bianco Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona.

Started painting murals for casinos in Las Vegas and around the country.
Moved to Las Vegas, Nevada- continued to work on abstract paintings. Designed and sculpted head of Sphinx in front of Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas

Traveled throughout Europe visiting galleries and museums

Home shows for paintings. Held in homes of patrons- selling several pieces at each

Pictured: Geordie & Jamie Hormel – 84″ x 42″ each – oil on canvas (and yes, Geordie’s grandfather came up with Spam)

1998 - 1999

One man show at Panini Gallery, Las Vegas

Two person show at Fielden’s, Las Vegas

Divorced

Pictured: Carnivale – 50” x 66”

2002 - 2008

Opened live/work loft, Michael Wardle Gallery in the Arts Factory, Downtown Las Vegas
Board member of The Las Vegas Arts District Neighborhood Association.

Pictured: Nine Nubile Nudies – 60” x 96”

2008 - 2019

Lived and worked in a few different live/work studios in Las Vegas

Pictured: Apocalypse – 80” x 110” (diptych)

2017

After the years I spent at The Arts Factory, where I encountered thousands of people who saw and reacted to the work, I realized how important the viewer is to me and the work. Feels like the painting isn’t complete until the new owner of the work engages with the painting and gives it yet another layer of life and meaning that I often missed…. A fascinating, magical experience for me to witness and be a part of.

Pictured: Me ‘n all my Bitches – 50″ x 66″

2017 - 2019

I was becoming a little disillusioned with certain aspects of the art business and just living in the US in general.

Having spent a few years in Thailand years before, my thoughts drifted in the direction of moving there. Well, in September of 2019 it happened.

After travelling around for a few months I settled in a small village outside of a small town in Northern Thailand. In the shadow of an imposing limestone, tree-covered mountain, I live in a comfortable house with an open-air backyard studio which is a delight to work in.

In my retirement years I have built on some other interest, but I still make it out to the Studio on a regular basis.

Pictured: Jumping Off – 54” x 66”

Present Day

Though the drive of a younger man to conquer the world has diminished, my love, understanding and acceptance for the work continues to build. I feel so very lucky, in spite of a lifetime peppered with shortcomings and sloth, to be able to spend my time doing something I love; it mystifies me, scares me, confuses me, delights me and allows me, though just in fleeting moments, to feel whole.

I am truly grateful to be alive.

Pictured Sanguinaria – 50” x 66”

Northern Thailand

House I’ve leased in this beautiful mountain village.

Mountain Living

The Studio in my backyard.