Michael Doering

Artist Statement:

My work is built on contrast. I come from a rural, small-town background far removed from major art centers, and that distance has shaped both my independence and my perspective. I did not inherit a scene; I built a practice.

As a painter and printmaker, I work through layered processes that balance instinct with intention. Influenced by the gestural legacy of Abstract Expressionism and the immediacy of street art, I treat the surface as a site of tension and discovery. I often push a piece to the edge of collapse before resolving it, allowing risk to become part of the final composition. The friction between structure and spontaneity defines my visual language.

My work is autobiographical in origin. I create from memory, class, identity, humor, and contradiction. Because it is grounded in lived experience, it carries authenticity rather than performance. Within these personal narratives are broader themes of resilience, aspiration, vulnerability, and transformation. Viewers may not share my story, but they often recognize something of their own within it.

My practice is consistent and cumulative. Each body of work builds upon the last, forming an evolving but cohesive trajectory. Over time, a distinct languag...

BFA. University of Iowa. Art (1989).

M.Ed. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Counseling and Educational Psychology (1995).

M.Ed. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Educational Leadership (1997).

Selected Exhibitions

2025

“Current Mood”, HMVC Gallery, New York, NY (International Group Show)
“National Mother Lode Art Exhibition”, MACC, Rancho Cordova, CA (National Juried Group Show)
2024

“The Power of Red”, MVA Gallery, Bethlehem, PA (International Juried Group Show)
“The Wild Bunch”, Memento Mori Gallery, Lakewood, CO (International Juried Group Show)
“Reno Tahoe International Art Show”, Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, NV (International Group Show)
2023

“Portraits and Prints with a Touch of Graffiti”, Sierra Arts Gallery, Reno, NV (2-Person Show)
“2nd Annual Wild Art Open”, Wild Heart Art Gallery, Cathedral City, CA (International Juried Group Show)
“Masters of Domestic Animal Art 2023”, Wild Heart Art Gallery, Cathedral City, CA (International Juried Group Show)
“Thunderdomesticity: Damsels vs. Distress”, No. 7 Center Gallery, Vermillion, SD (International Juried Group Show)
“Literally, A Figurative Show” & “Un-lovable”, Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA (International Juried Group Shows)
2022

“Roar: The Art of Cats”, Wild Heart Art Gallery, Cathedral City, CA (International Juried Group Show)
“Leaders in Representational Art, Volume 1”, The Art House Gallery, Hastings, MI (International Juried Group Show)...