Born in Connecticut in 1976, Michael and showed a proficiency in art at a young age. Although art was his true passion, he studied religion and writing at Syracuse University in New York. Through his studies in comparative religions, he developed a deep appreciation for Eastern philosophy and mysticism. While at Syracuse, he also continued to draw, paint, and create while at the same time pursuing his own independent studies in fine art, art history, and art criticism. He formally withdrew from school after two years to concentrate more fully on his artistic explorations.

Michael has spent much of his adult life painting, traveling, and honing his artistic skills. Throughout his colorful life, he has actively pushed the boundaries of his creative endeavors, exploring his personal evolution while concentrating on archetypes of human emotional experience and how they play out in our relationship to the world. He feels that life is an ever-evolving dance, centering around creating a healthy coexistence with the world at large. Michael continues to draw inspiration from a wide variety of sources – music, art, architecture, politics, and more – while exploring philosophies and practices that inspire him including Buddhism, Yoga, dance, and various forms of meditation. He currently lives in Southern California with his wife Violet, an artist and student of philosophy, and their myriad pets.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Michael Divine is part of a wave of creative visionaries who draw their inspiration not just from art theory and intellectual ideas but also from the basic principles of what it is to lead a healthy and vibrant life. His spirited and vivacious artwork falls in step with a long tradition of artists who base their work on their interpretive visions. His paintings – with their imaginative wonder and deeper spiritual underpinnings – reference ancient traditions, modern artistic explorations, and contemporary themes.

Michael’s artwork follows in the footsteps of the Symbolist movement of the late 1800′s as it progressed through the Modern Art movements of the early 1900′s. His work is as much inspired by Futurism, Impressionism, and Abstract Artists as it is by the Surrealists and the Fantastic Realists. From Wassily Kandinsky’s intuitive balance of line and color to the bold movements of Umberto Boccioni to the psychologically deductive landscapes of Salvador Dali, the elements of the past inform Michael’s art and provide a groundwork to build upon. Hs is inspired by the teachings of the many great artists of the past and his work helps to continue a living artistic lineage and narrative and adds a very present spiritual component to this artistic vision.

Passionate and serene at once, Michael Divine’s images speak with a universal language of beauty that anyone can understand and relate to. Drawing upon his visions and experiences, his work explores the inner worlds of the psyche and the heart. He translates this experience into breathtakingly sublime imagery that illustrates the journey of growth and transcendence through the inescapable phenomenon of human existence and conditioning.

Ten Thousand Visions - The website of Michael Divine
Michael Divine on Facebook.