STATEMENT
Polomik's works fuse schematic mark-making with iconic figures and symbols, resulting in the manifestation of a spiritual narrative and diagram.
The diagram has for thousands of years been a direct way for humans to visually record a system. As an artist born out of a family of engineers, Michael grew 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 within his own visual language, his work glorifies the human struggle for understanding.
BIO
Polomik was born in San Jose, California and lives and works in Raleigh, 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 a 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).
2009. "Graphic Work by UNCW and ECU Faculty and Invited Alumni" Civic Center Gallery, Washington, 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. "Labors of Love" Bottega Art and Wine Gallery, 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.
2008. Travel Grant, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2007. Graduate Assistantship, 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's works fuse schematic mark-making with iconic figures and symbols, resulting in the manifestation of a spiritual narrative and diagram.
The diagram has for thousands of years been a direct way for humans to visually record a system. As an artist born out of a family of engineers, Michael grew 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 within his own visual language, his work glorifies the human struggle for understanding.
BIO
Polomik was born in San Jose, California and lives and works in Raleigh, 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 a 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).
2009. "Graphic Work by UNCW and ECU Faculty and Invited Alumni" Civic Center Gallery, Washington, 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. "Labors of Love" Bottega Art and Wine Gallery, 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.
2008. Travel Grant, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC.
2007. Graduate Assistantship, 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.
