STATEMENT
Polomik takes a diagram like approach to suggesting space and signifying messages in his work.
His pieces fuse schematic mark-making with iconic figures and symbols, depicting an amalgamation of styles ranging from the renaissance methods of Caravaggio and Rembrandt to the connective cells and windows of Peter Halley to the densely layered abstractions of Julie Mehretu. Narratives are manifested through numerous traces of systems converted into a sublime, three-dimensional space. These traces of systems are derived from sources that represent a working structure, and are layered in ways that create a new diagram and environment that is both real and indefinable. This product creates a way for the artist to analyze perspectives and questions in new ways, and enables the viewer to impose their own order or find their own solution to the system.
The diagram has for thousands of years been a way for humans to communicate a structure or system in a very visual sense. As an artist born out of a family of engineers, Polomik has grown up surrounded by circuit boards, bar graphs, and flow charts, using scrap print outs for drawing paper. Having learned to integrate the concept of the diagram into his own visual language, his work glorifies the human struggle for the understanding of the systems that we have not created ourselves.
BIO
Polomik was born in San Jose, California and lives and works in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. He received his MFA from Western Carolina University and has participated in several important exhibitions, most recent of which include ‘State of the Art / Art of the State’, Cameron Art Museum, curated by Susan Davidson of the Guggenheim Museum in NY and Nicholas Cullinan of the Tate Modern Museum in London, ‘Systems’ Elegant Mr. Gallery, Chicago, IL, and a large solo exhibition at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Michael is an honorary member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painting Society and his work is included in collections throughout the United States and Spain.
EDUCATION
2010. MFA, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2005. BA, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011. "Recent Work" Fayetteville Technical Community College Gallery, Fayetteville, NC.
2010. "Envisioning Balance: Mapping Natural, Industrial, and Digital Space" Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. "Solo Show" Western Carolina University Atrium Gallery, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. "Solo Show" Guadalupe Gallery, Sylva, NC.
2008. "The Decision” Hoey Theatre, Cullowhee, NC.
2008. "Sylva and the Surrounding Area" Spring St. Café, Sylva, NC.
SELECTED GROUP AND JURIED EXHIBITIONS
2011. "Postcard Pinup" Mint Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
2011. "State of the Art: Art of the State" Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC.
2011. "Systems" Elegant Mr. Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2011. "New Waves" Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC.
2010. "Emerging Artists of Western North Carolina" Jackson County Green Energy Park Gallery, Dillsboro, NC.
2010. "In Sunshine or In Shadow: A Residency, The WNC Students Who Were There" Traveling Show: CCCD (Hendersonville, NC), WCU (Cullowhee, NC).
2010. "Josephina Niggli Portrait Exhibit" 130 Gallery, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. "Graphic Work by UNCW and ECU Faculty and Invited Alumni" Civic Center Gallery, Washington, NC.
2009. "UNCW Alumni Show" Fischer Student Center Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2009. "Student Group Show" Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC
2009. "Western Carolina University Faculty and Student Show" Old Conn Gallery, Landrum, SC.
2008. "UNCW Alumni Show" Fischer Student Center Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "The Several Eyes of Fragmented Light" Warwick Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Chaotic Renderings" Independent Art Company, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Bridge to Bridge" Acme Art Studios, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Fresh" Soapbox Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Labors of Love" Bottega Art and Wine Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Artists Aid the Animals" American Legion Post, Wilmington, NC.
2006. "Up and Coming" Bottega Art and Wine Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2005. "Student Painting Show" Independent Art Company, Wilmington, NC.
2003. "All Student Show" Warwick Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
COLLECTIONS
Western Carolina University
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Jackson County Green Energy Park
Private Collections: Available upon request
AWARDS
2011. Member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.
2010. 2nd Place, Niggli Portrait Competition, 130 Gallery, Cullowhee, NC.
2007. Graduate Assistantship, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2008. Travel Grant, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2006. 2nd Place, Art and Wine Festival, Hugh McRae Park, Wilmington, NC.
2003. Best in Show, All Student Show, Warwick Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND RESIDENCIES
2011. Guest Lecturer, Fayetteville Technical Community College Gallery, Fayetteville, NC.
2010. Guest Lecturer, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. Guest Lecturer, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC.
2009. Artist in Residence, Marshall High Studios, Marshall, NC.
2008. Artist in Residence, En Plein Air Artist Collective, Sylva, NC.
PUBLICATIONS
2011. Joy, David. "Growing Gills." Cover painting and 17 chapter illustrations.
2010. Featured Artist. BeinArt Art Collective. www.beinart.org.
2008. Wuensch, Addie. "Community Service in Art," Starving Artist Magazine. August. Artist Interview and Featured Work.
2008. Featured Artist. Nomad Magazine, p. 77.
2008. O’neill, Joseph. Bluetan Artist Collective. www.bluetan.com. January. Artist Interview and Featured Work.
2007. Hodges, Lauren. "Triple Threat: Three Up and Coming Artists on the Scene," Encore Magazine, Vol. 24 / Pub 10 / 8/29 – 9/4/2007. Artist Interview and Featured Work p. 4, 20-21.
2007. Heblich, Isabel. "Labors of Love," Currents Magazine. 8 February. Artist Interview and Featured Work, Pages 14-15.
2007. Fernando, Joel. ILMatters Online Arts Catalog. www.ILMatters.com. January. Artist Interview and Featured Work.
Polomik takes a diagram like approach to suggesting space and signifying messages in his work.
His pieces fuse schematic mark-making with iconic figures and symbols, depicting an amalgamation of styles ranging from the renaissance methods of Caravaggio and Rembrandt to the connective cells and windows of Peter Halley to the densely layered abstractions of Julie Mehretu. Narratives are manifested through numerous traces of systems converted into a sublime, three-dimensional space. These traces of systems are derived from sources that represent a working structure, and are layered in ways that create a new diagram and environment that is both real and indefinable. This product creates a way for the artist to analyze perspectives and questions in new ways, and enables the viewer to impose their own order or find their own solution to the system.
The diagram has for thousands of years been a way for humans to communicate a structure or system in a very visual sense. As an artist born out of a family of engineers, Polomik has grown up surrounded by circuit boards, bar graphs, and flow charts, using scrap print outs for drawing paper. Having learned to integrate the concept of the diagram into his own visual language, his work glorifies the human struggle for the understanding of the systems that we have not created ourselves.
BIO
Polomik was born in San Jose, California and lives and works in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. He received his MFA from Western Carolina University and has participated in several important exhibitions, most recent of which include ‘State of the Art / Art of the State’, Cameron Art Museum, curated by Susan Davidson of the Guggenheim Museum in NY and Nicholas Cullinan of the Tate Modern Museum in London, ‘Systems’ Elegant Mr. Gallery, Chicago, IL, and a large solo exhibition at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Michael is an honorary member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painting Society and his work is included in collections throughout the United States and Spain.
EDUCATION
2010. MFA, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2005. BA, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011. "Recent Work" Fayetteville Technical Community College Gallery, Fayetteville, NC.
2010. "Envisioning Balance: Mapping Natural, Industrial, and Digital Space" Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. "Solo Show" Western Carolina University Atrium Gallery, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. "Solo Show" Guadalupe Gallery, Sylva, NC.
2008. "The Decision” Hoey Theatre, Cullowhee, NC.
2008. "Sylva and the Surrounding Area" Spring St. Café, Sylva, NC.
SELECTED GROUP AND JURIED EXHIBITIONS
2011. "Postcard Pinup" Mint Gallery, Atlanta, GA.
2011. "State of the Art: Art of the State" Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC.
2011. "Systems" Elegant Mr. Gallery, Chicago, IL.
2011. "New Waves" Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC.
2010. "Emerging Artists of Western North Carolina" Jackson County Green Energy Park Gallery, Dillsboro, NC.
2010. "In Sunshine or In Shadow: A Residency, The WNC Students Who Were There" Traveling Show: CCCD (Hendersonville, NC), WCU (Cullowhee, NC).
2010. "Josephina Niggli Portrait Exhibit" 130 Gallery, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. "Graphic Work by UNCW and ECU Faculty and Invited Alumni" Civic Center Gallery, Washington, NC.
2009. "UNCW Alumni Show" Fischer Student Center Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2009. "Student Group Show" Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, Cullowhee, NC
2009. "Western Carolina University Faculty and Student Show" Old Conn Gallery, Landrum, SC.
2008. "UNCW Alumni Show" Fischer Student Center Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "The Several Eyes of Fragmented Light" Warwick Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Chaotic Renderings" Independent Art Company, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Bridge to Bridge" Acme Art Studios, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Fresh" Soapbox Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Labors of Love" Bottega Art and Wine Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2007. "Artists Aid the Animals" American Legion Post, Wilmington, NC.
2006. "Up and Coming" Bottega Art and Wine Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
2005. "Student Painting Show" Independent Art Company, Wilmington, NC.
2003. "All Student Show" Warwick Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
COLLECTIONS
Western Carolina University
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Jackson County Green Energy Park
Private Collections: Available upon request
AWARDS
2011. Member of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society.
2010. 2nd Place, Niggli Portrait Competition, 130 Gallery, Cullowhee, NC.
2007. Graduate Assistantship, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2008. Travel Grant, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2006. 2nd Place, Art and Wine Festival, Hugh McRae Park, Wilmington, NC.
2003. Best in Show, All Student Show, Warwick Gallery, Wilmington, NC.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND RESIDENCIES
2011. Guest Lecturer, Fayetteville Technical Community College Gallery, Fayetteville, NC.
2010. Guest Lecturer, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2009. Guest Lecturer, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC.
2009. Artist in Residence, Marshall High Studios, Marshall, NC.
2008. Artist in Residence, En Plein Air Artist Collective, Sylva, NC.
PUBLICATIONS
2011. Joy, David. "Growing Gills." Cover painting and 17 chapter illustrations.
2010. Featured Artist. BeinArt Art Collective. www.beinart.org.
2008. Wuensch, Addie. "Community Service in Art," Starving Artist Magazine. August. Artist Interview and Featured Work.
2008. Featured Artist. Nomad Magazine, p. 77.
2008. O’neill, Joseph. Bluetan Artist Collective. www.bluetan.com. January. Artist Interview and Featured Work.
2007. Hodges, Lauren. "Triple Threat: Three Up and Coming Artists on the Scene," Encore Magazine, Vol. 24 / Pub 10 / 8/29 – 9/4/2007. Artist Interview and Featured Work p. 4, 20-21.
2007. Heblich, Isabel. "Labors of Love," Currents Magazine. 8 February. Artist Interview and Featured Work, Pages 14-15.
2007. Fernando, Joel. ILMatters Online Arts Catalog. www.ILMatters.com. January. Artist Interview and Featured Work.
