Michael Davis

M.A.D. Art, Inc.
817 West Sepulveda Street
San Pedro, CA 90731

Michael Davis was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Michael received an M.F.A. at California State University, Fullerton after realizing that two years of pre-medical wasn’t his calling. He is a practicing studio and public artist and has exhibited nationally.

Michael has public art commissions installed throughout the United States and in Japan. A partial list of his installations are Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach, CA; Metro Police Station in Kansas City, MO; Washington State University in Vancouver, Washington; a collaborative installation for Seattle’s Justice Center Complex and Santa Monica’s Public Safety Facility designed by architect Merdad Yazdani. Michael also has work at the Bronx Court House in New York, designed by architect Rafael Vinoly and a major urban design/public art commission, Main Street Square for Houston, Texas. His public art transit projects include stations in Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Jose and San Diego. Michael has written master art plans for several municipalities and has published a project paper on arts in the correctional facility for the Sybil Brand Institute through the Los Angeles County Art Commission. His work is featured in numerous publications including Artforum, Art News, Art in America, Public Art Review, and L.A.Rising, SoCal Artists before 1980.

His work is in public and private collections in the US and abroad. In 1970, along with fellow artists, Michael formed the first cooperative artist’s gallery in Orange County, 58F Plaza. With a roster of exhibits and performance work by emerging talent, the gallery became a noted venue for promoting the burgeoning Los Angeles and Orange County art scene. Michael received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1982 and 1984 and a Hand Hollow Fellowship in 1985. In addition, he received an AIA Award for Public Art in 1995.

Michael has served as a volunteer with Angels Gate Cultural Center, LA 2000 Advisory Arts Committee, the 1984 Olympic Arts Advisory Committee, the Community Redevelopment Agency Public Art Committee. He is currently serving on the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Art Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Design Advisory Panel for Los Angeles and is an Emeritus member of the Advisory Board for the Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum at California State University, Long Beach, CA. He has served on the faculty of Otis Art Institute, Claremont Graduate School, Mount St. Mary’s College, Marymount College and numerous community colleges and is a regular guest lecturer and seminar presenter for universities and art conferences.

When not in his studio, Michael can be found on the golf course, perfecting his game, or in the Mojave desert gathering visual stimuli.

EXHIBITIONS

SOLO EXHIBITIONS / Installations: (Partial Listing)
2024
“Michael Davis”, Coastline College Art Gallery, Newport Beach, CA
2023
“Michael Davis Perception”, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes
2017
“Rings”, Izen Miller Gallery, Rancho Mirage, CA
2015
“The Day the Earth Stood Still, TDTESS”, College of the Canyons Art Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA
2014
“No Place To Hide”, El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, CA
2010
Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA 2006
Peggy Zask Gallery, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2006
“Progress”, Grand Central Art Gallery, Santa Ana, CA, Catalog
“Progress Videos-1979 & 2005, Urban, Rotterdam, Netherlands
1999
Heritage Park Sculpture Garden, Santa Fe Springs, CA
"Castillo", Mission Trail, San Antonio, TX
1997
North Hollywood Police Station, CA
1996
The Big Clock, Nieman Marcus, Philadelphia, PA
1995
“Z.E.P.H.E.R.,” Site-Specific Installation, DART, Irving, Texas
Koplin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1992
The Works Gallery South, Costa Mesa, CA
1991
“Atom and Eve,” Rancho Santiago College, Santa Ana, CA
1990
The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA
1989
Karl Bornstein Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1988
“New Works,” The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA
Laguna Art Museum, installation and selected works, Laguna Beach
CSU Long Beach site specific installation, Long Beach, CA
“Torches,” Union Federal Savings, site-specific installation, Brea, CA
1986
Roy Boyd Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1985
Bruce Velick Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1984
Roy Boyd Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1983
“Michael Davis: Sculpture Survey 1973 - 1983,” Santa Rosa College
1982
Roy Boyd Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago, IL
1981
McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
1980
Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
California State University, Los Angeles, CA
Gallery U, Nagoya, Japan
Baxter Art Gallery, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA , catalog
1979
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
1978
Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Installation, Federal Building, Los Angeles, CA
1977
Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA
1975
Jack Glenn Gallery, Corona Del Mar, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2023
Uplifting Tales and Eroded Histories, 3-person exhibition with Richard Turner and Paul Harris, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
2022
“Color”, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
2019
Group Show, Izen Miller Gallery, Rancho Mirage, CA
Gallery 478, San Pedro, CA
2016
“On The Map: Artists Maps from Opposite Ends of the 110 Freeway, an Ancient Route Reconnected”, Avenue 50 Studio, Highland Park, CA
“Landslide-Slips in Time, Place and Identity”, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
2015
"Far Sited", University Art Museum, California State University Long Beach, CA
"Oasis", Stuart Haaga Gallery, Descanso Gardens, La Canada Flintridge, CA
"Body of Water", El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, CA
2014
“Summer Show”, Stone Rose Gallery, Long Beach, CA
2013
“Washed Up”, El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, CA
2012
PSST: Art in San Pedro 2010-2012, Warschaw Gallery, San Pedro, CA
2010
Collecting California, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna, CA
Melting Point, El Camino College, Torrance,CA
2008
Space Exhibition, California State University, Pomona, CA
2007
Haus Guest, The Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
2004
“Art and Justice”, City Space, Seattle, WA.
“Live Work:Skyline Street”, Center for Architecture, New York, NY
2002
“The Big Frame II”, Sarasota Season of Sculpture, Sarasota, FL.
2000
"It's About Time," Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
"Connecting the Past: A Celebration of the CSU, Fullerton Sculpture Collection"
1998
"Pierwalk '98," Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
LA group show, the gallery at Herman Miller Showroom, Los Angeles, CA
1997
“Public Art Metro Dade”-Contemporary Art Museum, Miami
“Pier Walk”-Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
"Unbuilt So. California”, Guggenheim Gallery, Chapman University, Orange, CA
"Forms of Abstraction" Deanna Miller Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1996
“On & Off the Wall”, exhibition of contemporary sculpture, Riverside Art Museum, CA
1995
“From Warhol to Baule: Unexpected Selections from the University Art Museum Collection,” UC Santa Barbara, CA
“Selections from the Permanent Collection,” Rockford Art Museum, IL
“The Anamorph”, Site- Specific Installation, with Ann Preston & Richard Turner, Anaheim
1993
“Project Box,” in conjunction with the Los Angeles International Art Fair
“Site Pacific/Site Specific,” Marymount College, San Pedro, CA
1992
“From the Studio: Recent Painting and Sculpture from 20 California Artists” The Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA(Catalog)
1991
“Contemporary Artists: Artists II,” Contemporary Artists Services, Los Angeles, CA
1990
“The Armory Show,” Pasadena, CA
1989
“The Traveling Show: Art Influenced By Transportation,” Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA
“San Pedro Abstracts,” The FHP Hippodrome Gallery, Long Beach, CA
“The Private Works of Public Artists,” Gallery at the Plaza, Security Pacific Corporation, Los Angeles, CA
1987
The Works Gallery, Long Beach, CA
“Art on the Medium,” West Hollywood, CA
1986
“The Column Show: Metaphor and Motif,” Fisher Gallery, USC, Los Angeles, CA
1985
“Artists Look at Architecture,” Transamerica Tower, San Francisco, CA
“Monuments To,” California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
“Sculpture,” Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago, IL
“2nd International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition,” The University of Hawaii, Art Gallery, Jan-Mar, University of Oklahoma Museum of Art, Apr-May, Victoria Regional Museum Association, Jun-July, Tyler Museum of Art, Texas, Aug-Sep, University of Alabama Art Gallery, Oct, San Diego State University, Nov-Dec
“58F Plaza: A Time Remembered,” CSU, Fullerton Art Gallery, Fullerton, CA
1984
“Olympic Project Exhibition,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
“Olympic Project Exhibition,” Design Center, Los Angeles, CA
“Five Sculptural Artists,” FINE Arts Gallery, Cerriots College, Norwalk, CA
“Urban Sculpture,” Security Pacific Plaza, Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CA
1983
“Construction/Urban Images/Correspondence Works,” San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA
“Series Two,” Gensler and Associates, San Francisco, CA
1982
“Forgotten Dimension,” Fresno Arts Center, Fresno, CA, National Traveling Exhibition
“Sculpture 1982,” Sonoma State University, in conjunction with the 12th Annual International Sculpture Conference, Oakland, CA
“Interior/Exterior,” Walker Associate, Los Angeles, CA
“Selections from the Collection of Security Pacific National Bank,” Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles, CA
“Mayor Burne’s Mile of Sculpture,” Chicago International Art Exposition,Chicago, IL (catalog)
1981
“Artist as Architect/Architect as Artist,” Ohio State University
“National Sculpture Invitational,” Visual Arts Center of Alaska
“Architectural Attitudes,” Jan Baum Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Group Show, McIntosh/Drysdale Gallery, Washington, DC
1980
“Art on the Beach,” Battery Park, New York, NY (catalog)
“6 Los Angeles Sculptors,” Federal Reserve Building, Washington, DC, catalog
Group Show, Stage One Gallery, Orange, PA
1979
“Rooms, Moments Remembered,” Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA , catalog
”Drawings and Prints,” Space Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
“Sculpture ‘79,” Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton “Sculpture Invitational,” Foster/White Gallery, Seattle, WA
1978
“Artists Investigate the Environment,” Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles, CA
1977
“Miniature,” California State University, Los Angeles, CA (catalog)
“Proposal I-5,” California State University, San Jose, CA (catalog)
1976
“Michael Davis and John Okulick,” CSU, Humboldt, CA
“Michael Davis and John Partin,” CSU, San Jose, CA
1975
“Subject/Object,” Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art, CA (catalog)
1974
Group Show, Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA
“Light Exhibition,” Claremont Graduate School, Libra Gallery, Claremont, CA

PUBLIC ART

SELECTED PUBLIC ART PROJECTS (Partial Listing)
2023
Laguna Art Museum, Design of Studio/ArtLab, Laguna Beach, CA

2020
“Dormitory O” Memorial, Richmond, CA, in collaboration with Eugene Daub

2019
California Street Bridge Project, Ventura, CA

2018
Lucé at Edinger@Gothard Project, Huntington Beach CA
Lincoln Park, Burbank, CA in collaboration with Eugene Daub

2016
Camera Obscura: “Altered States,” White Point Nature Preserve, San Pedro, CA
Plaza Promenade Project, Ventura, CA (proposed)

2014
ACT Transit District, Oakland to San Leandro (finalist)
Berkeley BART Station, Design Consultant/Arts Advisory Richmond Intermodal Station, Design Consultant/Arts Advisory
Metro Gold Line, Arcadia Station, Arcadia CA (current)

2013
Camera Obscura Suite: “View Finder”, San Francisco Exploratorium, CA

2012
Manhattan Beach Centennial Sculpture Competition (finalist)
John Wayne Airport Public Art Commission, Santa Ana, CA (finalist)
Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations Public Art Competition (finalist)

2011
Long Beach Transit ARRA Public Art Project, Long Beach, CA 2013
California Street Project, Ventura, CA (current)
Plaza Promenade Project, Ventura, CA (current)
San Jose, VTA Silicon Valley Rapid Transit Project, San Jose, CA (pending)

2010
Metro Police Station, Kansas City, MO
Central Subway Union Square/Market Street Station, San Francisco, CA (finalist)

2009
Harvey Milk Recreation Center, San Francisco Arts Commission

2008
Sybil Brand Institute, County of Los Angeles, CA, lead Artist, (Project paper available)
Bridge to Breakwater, Phase II, History Project, Port of LA, CA., (on-hold, current)

2007
Century City-Held Public Art Commission, Los Angeles, CA (finalist)
Kent County Courthouse, Providence RI., (finalist)
Fire Station 36, Dept. of Cultural Affairs City of Los Angeles

2006
Burbank Five Points Gateway Project, Burbank, CA (Finalist)
Bloom Art Walk Commission, George Tirebiter: USC, Los Angeles, CA
Learning Living Center, Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, OR., (Finalist)
Bronx Courthouse, % for the Arts Program, Dept. of Cultural Affairs, New York, NY
Seattle Arts Commission, Lander Station Rail Project

2005
Metro Gold Line, Montclair Station, Montclair CA. (finalist)
General Mitchell International Airport: Concourse “D”, Milwaukee, WI (finalist)
Bridge to Breakwater, Timm’s Landing Commission, City of LA, CA., (finalist)
Air Treatment Facilities, City of LA, CA., (finalist)

2004
Bridge to Breakwater, City of Los Angeles, CA., Art Master Plan
Oregon State Crime Lab., Oregon Arts Commission, % for Art Program, Portland,OR.
Promenade Plaza, d'Orsay Hotel, PCA % for Arts, Long Beach, CA (current)
CalTrans, LARTMC Operation Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA (finalist)

2003
Houston Main St., Cultural Arts Council of Houston & Harris County, Houston, TX
Washington State Arts Commission, Washington State University at Vancouver, WA
The Pike at Queensway Bay, Public Corporation for the Arts, Long Beach, CA
The Police & Fire Emergency Operation Center, Santa Monica, CA
Seattle Arts Commission, Justice Center Project, w/ Richard Turner, Nori Sato & Pam Beyette, Seattle, WA

2002
Sarasota Season of Sculpture, “The Big Frame”, Sarasota, FL
Los Lagos Golf Course, San Jose Public Art Program, San Jose, CA
West San Fernando Valley Courthouse/LA Co. Arts Commission, Chatsworth, CA

2001
Narita Airport, Tokyo, Japan (finalist)
Chandelier Fall, Hollywood and Highland Project, Hollywood CA

2000
City of Santa Fe Springs Union Parkway Project (finalist)
Camarillo Transit Project, with Richard Turner (finalists)
LAMTA 7th & Metro Bench Project (finalist)
Houston International Airport (finalist)
LA Cultural Affairs Cabrillo Marine Museum (finalist)

1999
LAMTA, Vermont/Sunset Station, lead artist and co-designer with station architects, Diedrich and Associates, Atlanta, GA and Edward C. Barker and Associates, Los Angeles, CA
Heritage Park, City of Santa Fe Springs, CA (lead artist)
"Castillo," Mission Trails Public Art Project, City of San Antonio, T X
Fluor Corporation, Irvine, CA
San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, Grantville Station (completion 2005)

1999
Sarasota City East Community Library & Field Operations Center, FL (finalist)
GSA, United States/Canada border crossing station (finalist)

1998
Marinaside Crescent Project, Vancouver, Canada (selected artist)
Transit Mall Project, City of Santa Monica, California (finalist)
Golf Course Commission, City of Carlsbad, California, and (finalist)
Los Angeles Staples Arena, Los Angeles, CA (finalist)
Civic Center Complex, San Francisco, CA, w/ Richard Turner (finalist)

1997
Downtown Parking Structure Art Plan, City of San Buenaventura, C A, (finalist)
Frances Stevens Park, City of Palm Springs, CA, w/Ann Preston, (finalist)

1996
City of Escondido Public Art Corridor Master Plan (with Ann Preston, Marc Palley and Richard Turner, Escondido, CA, (finalists)
The Los Angeles Zoo, (w/ Susan Hornsby-Ortiz & Richard Turner) LA, CA, (finalists)
Metro-Dade International Airport, Miami, Florida

1995
The Big Clock, Neiman Marcus, a site specific sculpture, Philadelphia, PA
Zephyr, North Irving Transit Station, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
The Anamorph, sculpture installation with Ann Preston and Richard Turner, Anaheim, CA

1994
Eclipse 2035, Tobu Hotel Grand, Sapporo, Japan, site-specific sculpture for lobby & exterior
Evanston Public Library, site-specific sculpture for facade of library, Evanston, IL (finalist)
Union Station Gateway Plaza, Intermodal Bus way Facility: Bus Shelters,
With Ann Preston and Richard Turner, Los Angeles, CA (finalist)
Alvarado Reservoir, with Richard Turner, San Diego, CA (finalist)

1992
Irvine Metro Rail Station, design team, site-specific elements for interior and exterior spaces, with Richard Turner, Irvine, CA
North Hollywood Police Station, lead artist for design of interpretive art elements incorporated into the interior and exterior spaces; collaboration with LAPD, LA Cultural Affairs Department and Meyers & Allen Assoc., Architects (completed, 1997)

1991
Mos - Cone - E, site-specific sculptural collaboration with artist Richard Turner, Mineko Grimmer and Michael Davis for the Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA (finalist/model)
Embarcadero, site-specific design team Richard Turner, Susan Schwartzenberg, Buster Simpson and Michael Davis for the 2.5 mile design of the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA (finalist)

1990
Navis, design team collaboration, Nadel Architects, design of exterior plaza/fountain and site-sspecific installations, San Pedro, CA
World View, collaborative design of The Works Gallery South facade with Leonard Malmquist, architect of HFTA Group, Costa Mesa, CA
Man - Hat - Tan, site-specific installation, symbol and sign rebus, design in collaboration with Susan Groetsch, Manhattan Beach, CA
Floating Worlds, a series of site-specific installations for the Security Pacific National Bank, Irvine, CA (finalist)
Symbol and Word, installation, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR (finalist)
Within is Belief/Belief is Within, site-specific installation, Social Services Building, Santa Barbara, CA (finalist)
No Boundary Condition, development, design and fabrication of garden and sculpture elements in collaboration with artist Jud Fine and landscape architect Richard Thomas, SWA Group for the Carnation Corporation World Headquarters, Glendale, CA
Inventions and Discoveries, site-specific sculpture/installation for Family Health Planning (FHP) Headquarters, Fountain Valley, CA

1989
Parables; Sphere/Arch/Ring, three part site-specific installation, Karl Bornstein Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Green Bridge, Blue Ship, interior site-specific sculpture/mural installation, in collaboration with Terry Schoonhoven, San Pedro, CA
Ptolemy World, site-specific installation and fountain in collaboration with the Jerde Partnership, Beverly Hills, CA (finalist)
We the People, site-specific installations for Federal Building, Los Angeles, CA (finalist)

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS/INSTALLATIONS (PARTIAL):
Albuquerque Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM
California State University, Los Angeles, CA
Koll Center, Irvine, CA
(collaboration with Terry Schoonhoven)
Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
Hewlett Packard Regional Headquarters, North Hollywood, CA
Security Pacific National Bank, Los Angeles, CA
Anaconda Copper, Chicago, IL
Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach, CA
California State University, Fullerton,CA
Anaheim,CA(Collaboration w/Ann Preston&Richard Turner)
California State University, Long Beach,CA
The Principal Group, Des Moines, IA
Los Angeles,Grand Promenade, Los Angeles, CA
Union Federal Savings, Brea, CA
Los Angeles, Pacific Place, San Pedro, CA
Los Angeles, North Hollywood Police Station,CA
Sheraton Hotel, San Pedro, CA (collaboration with Terry Schoonhoven)
FHP International Headquaters, Fountain Valley, CA
Dallas, TX
Neiman-Marcus, King of Prussia, PA.
Bristol-Meyer Squibb Company, NJ.
Santa Monica, CA, Public Safety Facility
San Jose, CA
Washington State University, Vancouver, WA
Chatsworth, CA, LA County Court House
Seattle, WA, Seattle Justice Center
The Pike at QueensWay Bay, Long Beach, CA., Public Corporation for the Arts
New York City, NY
Kansas City, MO

EDUCATION:
California State University Fullerton, CA., M.F.A.

GRANTS AND AWARDS:
AIA Award
National Endowment for the Arts, Artists’ Fellowship (2 awards)
Hand Hollow Foundation (HHF) Artists’ Fellowship

PUBLIC SERVICE:
ADVISORY BOARDS
Mayor's Design Advisory Panel (current)
Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, CSULB, Advisory Board, Emeritus
Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Art Advisory Committee
LA Community Redevelopment Agency, Public Art Committee
LA 2000 Advisory Arts Committee
1984 Olympic Arts Advisory Committee
Angels Gate Cultural Center, Board Member

PANELS AND GUEST LECTURES (partial):

2010,2011
Exploratorium, San Francisco CA, Observatory Syposium
2008
American for the Arts, National Convention, Philadelphia, PA
2007
American for the Arts, National Convention, Milwaukee,WA
2003
College of Art and Design, Guest Lecture
Long Beach, Public Arts In America, Conference Panelist
1997
Summer Arts, California State University, Long Beach
Public Art in the Urban Landscape
1996
Laguna School of the Arts, Guest Curator
1995
WAM Guest Lecturer “On the Process of Collaboration, Public Art and Public Places”
1987
“Public Art In America,” Philadelphia, Panelist/Workshop, Presenter
Laguna Art Museum, Art In Public Places, Guest Lecturer
1987 - 1992
Community Redevelopment Agency, Panelist, Public Art Review
1993
CSU, Long Beach, Public Art, “The Building, the Port and the Landscape
1992
California State University, Los Angeles, Guest Lecturer, Graduate Studies
Oakland Art Museum, Guest Presenter, “From the Studio”
1991
University of Southern California, Art In Public Places Program, Conference Panelist, Public Art a New Paradigm.
Situ,” California State University, Long Beach
1985
“Public Arts: Means and Objectives,” Claremont Graduate School, guest lecturer
1983
Santa Rosa College, guest artist
1981
Albuquerque Art Museum, guest artist