Michael Taav

Michael Taav was born in New York City. He is a painter, sculptor, photographer, writer and filmmaker who began painting in 1999. What little he knew at the outset, he had learned from observing his friends, Grant Drumheller, Katherine Sherwood, Joanne Landes, and Betsy Rosenwald. In 2012, seeking seclusion, he left the city and moved to "the styx of Wisconsin" where he could experiment freely, discover new tools and techniques, make a few "fortuitous mistakes" and ideally, progress more rapidly.

In the years preceding his move, Taav had worked as a cab driver, a feature film director, a house painter, art model, screenwriter, playwright, gardener, tutor, author, university professor, telemarketer, door-to-door salesman, journalist, tennis instructor, tennis hustler, script consultant, dramaturge, ghost writer, guest lecturer, warehouse worker, and essayist. Since 2012, he has supported himself through the sale of his paintings, commissioned writings, and the royalties from his films, plays, books, and screenplays.

Taav received a B.A. from SUNY Purchase, a M.F.A from UC Davis, and a Ph.D from the City University of New York Graduate Center.

Michael has participated in Group Exhibitions at Columbia College (2004 and 2005) and Green Bay's Art Garage (2007-8 and early 2012). His first solo exhibition was at the NWT Gallery later in 2012 (July Through October). In 2017, 2018, and 2019 he exhibited his photographs at the nomadic DAM Gallery in Green Bay. In late Spring 2022, the DAM Gallery exhibited his most recent work (paintings, photographs, and sculpture).