Michael Israel
| Michael Israel | |
|---|---|
 Michael Israel.jpg Michael Israel | |
| Born | March 15, 1960 New York, New York |
| 🏫 Education | University of Miami |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Style | Speed Painting, Live Action Painting |
| 🌐 Website | www.michaelisrael.com |
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Michael Israel (March 15, 1960) is an American humanitarian and performance artist who is world-renowned for his live action paintings that have raised millions for charity. Israel’s performances are often referred to as a "Cirque Du Soleil meets Picasso" experience.
Israel was born in New York, NY where he spent his childhood studying martial arts. His career as an artist began at age fourteen (1974) in Louisville, KY where he performed and sold his first works for $3 each. He spent the summers of 1976–1984 touring and painting at festivals.[1] Educationally, as part of an independent studies program for high-IQ students, his 4.6 high school GPA earned him early admission into the University of Miami at age 17, where in his first few weeks he earned 30 college credits from CLEP testing.[2]
Early life
Michael Israel spent his childhood studying martial arts. In 1977, Israel earned a Black Belt promotion and competed at the USKA (United States Karate Association) Grand Nationals and won in Men’s Black Belt Kata (forms) & lightweight Kumite (fighting). He spent 1977–1985 running three South Florida Karate schools while maintaining an art studio and touring nationally. In 1994, Israel suffered a horrific car accident, causing him to lose his career temporarily. A year later, Michael persevered, rebuilding the structure of his art performances. In 2002, he performed during the President’s Dinner and in 2003 at the Presidential Gala[3] in Washington DC and the Winter Olympics on the Medals Stage in Salt Lake City, Utah.[2]
Career
Although Michael began creating his art to music professionally in 1974, it was just how he painted and not meant as a show in itself. Michael says “it is Denny Dent who brought performing portraits to music into the public eye in the 1980s.” Since then, many new artists have emulated or at least attempted to emulate the concept and method. Following are some of the significant differences and innovations in media, craftsmanship, content, and social impact that can be attributed solely to Michael Israel.
Israel began his performance career painting on large-format paper for economic reasons. As his work sold for more, he transitioned to traditional primed artist’s canvas that is hand-stretched over a wooden frame, except that his canvases were primed with black gesso instead of the traditional white. His method of painting consists of defining realistic tones, blending, and shading with a three-dimensional quality. He was the first artist and, as far as it is known, only live action artist to create live works using a special chroma technique that causes images to appear to come out of the canvas in virtual reality when using 3-D glasses. He was also the pioneer to create an easel to spin his canvases so he could paint them while they are spinning and at impossible angles. His works have been created on all shapes and sizes of canvas, including multiple canvases then put together as a puzzle, vehicles, boats, aircraft, and live models and dancers. Israel has created works on metal with sparks flying and on glass that he later shattered to create an impactful reveal where yet another painting instantly appeared. He was the first to paint a 16-foot painting that disappeared in a puff of pyro smoke in an arena with eight thousand people. Israel was also the first to perform live spinning paintings on a trampoline, also the first and only to craft the 360 Dreamcatcher performance.[4] The first and only to paint on a moving platform towed in figure-eight circles around the Mohegan Sun ice area in Connecticut by 16 skaters.
Oftentimes, Israel incorporates icons, logos, and scenery into his work to communicate various messages. In fact, he has created many original images with significant messages and cultural impact that has garnered the attention of millions. He uses individual and multiple artworks to communicate a story or mission that go beyond the canvas. Michael has created unique direct charity and corporate conscience business models that have generated millions of dollars and other support to empower charitable causes. Every event is notable and each has many side stories of note as well. We’ve chosen just a few that we feel the general readership will relate to. When asked his favorite, Michael always replies, “The next one!”[2]
Michael's name was thrown around in the mainstream media during the 2016 Election,[5] mentioned in ties with the controversial 6-foot (1.8 m) Donald Trump portrait. Michael had painted the portrait for a charity event, nearly 10 years ago, benefitting HomeSafe Charity, located in Palm Beach, Florida. During the 2016 United States Presidential Election, attention has been brought to the usage of Trump's use of charity funds to purchase the artwork, and the ultimate whereabouts of the painting are under question.[6]
References
- ↑ King, Jonathon. "The Masterpiece Theater of Michael Israel". City And Shore. City And Shore Magazine. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Bio - Michael Israel". Michael Israel. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- ↑ "George W. Bush Presidential Gala". Vimeo. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- ↑ Michael Israel (2007-07-06), Dream Catcher performed by Michael Israel, retrieved 2016-12-08
- ↑ Israel, Michael. "Painter Who Did $20,000 6-Foot Trump Painting Says They Sell For Ten Times That". http://www.mediaite.com/. Mediaite. Retrieved 22 February 2017. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ "Trump bought a 6-foot-tall portrait of himself with charity money. We may have found it". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
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