Michael Battaglia
Michael Paul Battaglia’s artwork is inspired by a lifetime of passion for the ancient world.His fantasy landscape, cityscape and Still Life paintings reflect his extensive travel in the U.S., Europe and Africa. Italy holds endless fascination for the artist—the hill towns, ancient ruins and landscapes find their way into many of his paintings. Most recently he has been doing a series of abstract pieces, yet they are still clearly recognizable as Battaglia paintings.
With skill developed over a half century of painting, Battaglia brings his fantasies and memories to life. Beginning with Venetian plaster on burlap (sometimes canvas), he layers paints, powders, glazes, flowers, glass, found objects and a variety of other materials to create large scale, textural paintings. He often inscribes what he calls “Sgraffito” into the plaster. Christian and indigenous cultural symbolism, Biblical text and writings from antiquity are often employed, but most of the time the writings are not intended to be read.
Almost always the edges of Mr. Battaglia’s paintings are left ragged, so the work looks old—as if it was cut out of an ancient castle or church. He is able to capture the play of light on European “old-world” surfaces. That “graceful aged look” is his specialty. A master with glazes and leafings, many of his paintings seem to glow. People often wonder if the artist has painted on stone or metal because he is able to create that illusion.
Painting from the heart, infused into the work is a deep and abiding love for God.
Beginning his career as a graphic artist, Michael quickly moved into restoration, decorative finishes and murals. He has been doing commissions, sometimes creating whole walls and ceilings in trompe l’oeil, for the rich and famous from New York City to Beverly Hills ever since, including the Venetian hotel, resort & casino in Las Vegas.
Mr Battaglia has been represented by various Galleries since receiving his MFA in 1974 including Polly Friedlander in Seattle and Eckenroth Gallery in Vail, Colorado. Since that time his work has been sold to enthusiastic collectors across the United States and Canada.
Michael finding inspiration in Africa
