Michael Taylor
Please use the contact form at the bottom of the page to contact the gallery for prices of Michael's work.
Please note -
Not all the artworks shown here are on site at the gallery at any given time. If you would like to view a particular artwork at the gallery please contact us first so we can ensure that it is at the gallery. 07-5429 6404 or admin@artoncairncross.com.au Many Thanks, Jane and Tony |
Leather mask sculptor
Born - California, USA Resides - S.E. Queensland Michael Taylor was born in Burlingame, California and has been sculpting leather masks since 1978. His background also includes a degree in marine biology (as well as Fine Art) and extensive yacht-based journies around the world from which come some of Michael's greatest inspirations. He was acclaimed for his masks particularly in New Orleans, Los Angeles and San Francisco where he continued to sell his work even after moving to Australia in 1992. In 1995 Michael was persuaded to exhibit in his new homeland at the Tony Gill Galleries (now Art on Cairncross). Since that initial success, Michael has gained national recognition through many exhibitions including an unprecedented regional galleries touring exhibition which was seen in 21 regions of Australia and major solo exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. His unique masks have been shown and admired as widely as Japan and Switzerland and acquired by art lovers worldwide. Each of the leather masks is a unique artwork hand-crafted solely by Michael and his fascination with sculpture has also led him into very different artistic areas away from the masks. His substantial sculptural works in bronze, steel or other media have been invited into many prestigious sculptural events as well as procuring commissions for public artworks from the Gold Coast City Council and the Townsville City Council. Michael's latest masks re-inforce his status with an enthralling range of increasingly imaginative mask sculptures, each a work of sustaining beauty. He has also created a small number of bronze mask sculptures of significance. |
Leather masks
Ea - Celtic/Gaelic-Fire - Leather Mask - 80x74cm
Kali - Hawaiian, The Dark One - Leather Mask - 60x82cm
Emalia - Latin, Flirt - Leather Mask - 114x35cm
Bronze masks
Giotta - Italian, Immortal - Bronze Mask - 50x30cm
SELECTED MASK EXHIBITIONS;
1978 "The Store", San Francisco, California (solo)
1982 & '84 Festival of Masks, Los Angeles, California
1984 Rumors, New Orleans, Louisiana
1989 Paul Luster Gallery, San Francisco, California
Contemporary Craft Show, Santa Monica, California
1990 Ward Eis Gallery, Petosky, Michigan (solo)
1995 "Mask Up", Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane.
Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld. (solo)
Jabiru Gallery, Sanctuary Cove, Qld. (solo)
1996 Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld. (solo)
Solander Gallery, Canberra, ACT. (solo)
Inaugural Exhibition, Assoc. of Fine Artists, Gold Coast, Qld.
1997 Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld.
Hibiscus Art Gallery, Sandy Bay, Tasmania.
1998 Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld. (solo)
"Mask Up", Cintra Galleries, Brisbane, Qld. (solo)
Leather Art Forum, Tokyo Geijitsu, Gejijyo, Japan
"Leather '98", Alte Kaserne, Winterthur, Switzerland
1999 Noosa Sheraton Resort, Noosa, Qld. (solo)
2000 Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld. (solo)
Makers Mark Gallery, Sydney, NSW. (solo)
2001 Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld. (solo)
Rumors, New Orleans, Louisiana (solo)
"Ikons of Identity", The Custard Factory, Birmingham, UK
2002 Tony Gill Galleries, Montville, Qld. (solo)
2003 "Reflections" Nederlands Leder en Schoenon Museum, Ottobrunn, Germany
Art on Cairncross, Maleny, Qld. (solo)
2004 Art on Cairncross, Maleny, Qld. (solo)
2006 Graydon Gallery, Brisbane, held by Art on Cairncross from Maleny. (solo)
2007 “architecture of personality”, Graydon Gallery, held by Art on Cairncross (solo)
2008 Dalby Regional Art Gallery, Dalby, Qld, held by Art on Cairncross (solo)
2009 “Looking Inward”, Gallery 2120, Brisbane held by Art on Cairncross (solo)
2011 “Character Lines”, Art on Cairncross, Maleny, Qld. (solo)
2013 Feature artist, August, Art on Cairncross, Maleny
2014 Feature artist, August, Art on Cairncross, Maleny
"Metamorphosis" was a solo touring exhibition of leather mask sculptures which was displayed at an unprecedented 21 regional art galleries across Australia, curated by and commencing at the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery in April 1996 and returning to Stanthorpe to finish in June 1999.
Michael has also had a solid career as a sculptor in many other mediums. He has regularly been an invited participant in such prestigious exhibitions as the Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Award in Victoria; Swell Sculpture Festival in Queensland and Sculpture by the Sea in Sydney, NSW. Works have been commissioned for public and private collections and are held by the Gold Coast City Art Gallery; Sunshine Coast Regional Council; Gold Coast City Council and Townsville City Council.
A STATEMENT REGARDING COPIES OF MICHAEL'S MASKS; " Three mask designs were commissioned, manufactured and distributed by a company overseas for promotional purposes. These three masks are made of painted fibreglass and have now been sold worldwide. The one-of-a-kind leather masks, on the other hand, are created by Michael in his studio in South East Queensland."
