Michael Sacramento

Biography

Michael Sacramento learned how to draw from his father who operated and designed for his family's shoe business in Manila, Philippines. Their artistic bond forged and continues to fuel Michael's interest for creativity. After studying painting and drawing at California State University, Northridge and San Francisco State University, Michael began his professional fine art career in 2003 with a sold out show in his first gallery exhibition.

In the same year, Michael received a training grant from the University of California, Berkeley to further his studies at California College of the Arts. Afterwards, he received another award to participate in Taking the Leap, a business school for artists. He continued his artistic journey through features in various media and numerous exhibitions. His resume includes solo exhibitions in the U.S. national historic landmark International Hotel in San Francisco as well as the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. 

The themes in Michael Sacramento's work are based on the idea of memory and emotional connections. Each subject is tied to a particular experience - whether real or imagined. Michael's aesthetic style is influenced by traditional, pop, illustration and contemporary design. The resulting body of work forms the unique representation of his artistic perception.

Artist Statement

My collaged paintings are created with fragments of images, objects, textures and colors that are inspired by my day to day observations.  The process of collecting and finding inspiration from these visual cues, then using them to create a new visual experience, is my choice of intuitive self expression.  

Most paintings begin on the computer, where I rummage through digital images that I have collected from my everyday life. My favorite images are of street corners, various surfaces (like concrete, wood and metal), street birds, butterflies, graffiti, and “poster” portraits. Sometimes I draw or paint the images myself.  When an image resonates with me, I place it in an inventory that I use for the actual painting.  Creating the physical painting begins with a surface that I prepare with a combination of metal, plywood, pumice gel, acrylic sheets and acrylic medium. This combination is inspired by the aesthetics of functional elements from city buildings and streets. Then, I paint them to further emphasize the formalistic qualities of the surface. Once the surface is prepared, I begin to apply my imagery through various techniques. Many times, I place focal images on acrylic sheets and lay them a few millimeters over the surface. Some images, such as the butterflies, literally look like they’re resting on the painting. 

These Urban Inspired paintings are a body of work where I incorporate various inspirations into one. This method of integrating seemingly independent images, materials and surfaces is my offering to the world. It is my fullest and most honest self expression. Consequently this new body of work can be perceived as an analog to the human experience and how independent entities can be interdependent to create a higher, more textured and layered existence.