Michael Crespi

I grew up in East Norwalk, Connecticut, and have lived in Alabama for over fifty years, six years of it in the Birmingham area and the rest in the southeast corner of the state. Diverse life experiences and constant reading have provided endless imaginative fuel for both written and visual creativity. Activities as diverse as criminal defense work, service as a judge, sailing, fishing and travel have all contributed to a growing awareness of the beauty and complexity of human existence. I see my work as an artist as a constantly changing re-imagining of all that has gone before.

It began at birth and hasn’t slowed down since. The formal part took place in New England from kindergarten through college graduation, then in Alabama for law school. Artistically, it began with somewhat early lessons (age 6) from a highly talented neighbor, the late Hazel Slaughter. She encourage free form shapes and choice of color, tutelage that turned out to have far more lasting impact than the more formal classes I took down here in drawing and watercolor when I was well into middle age.

My most recent exhibition was at Mural City Coffee, the largest coffeehouse in this part of Alabama. It included my works in acrylic and oil and lasted from the beginning of May, 2019, through the end of June. Previous gallery representations have included Nature Gallery in Dothan, Alabama, Lyda Rose Gallery in the Birmingham area and VisionQuest in Panama City, Florida.