Following the success of his recent solo exhibition Like No One at Ashawagh Hall in East Hampton, artist Michael McDowell returns as one of several artists featured in the exhibition Sea Through River, now on view at LTV Studios, 75 Industrial Road, Wainscott. The exhibition is on display through November 30, and features eleven of Michael’s paintings, alongside the work of five other renowned artists, curated by longtime collaborator Haim Mizrahi.
Michael’s Ashawagh Hall show, which brought together fifty paintings spanning from the 1980s to today, offered the community an intimate look at the full breadth of his practice—from realism and figurative work to explorations in abstraction. It also marked a meaningful homecoming: a chance to reconnect with collectors, friends, and the Springs arts community that has shaped his creative life for more than sixty years.
As he steps into this next chapter at LTV Studios, Michael reflected on the evolution behind his latest body of work, the inspiration he finds in the East End’s landscapes and histories, and what it means to keep experimenting after decades of artistic discovery.
What was it like returning for a solo show after so many years?
Great! Ashawagh Hall is such a great venue and so wonderful for the community. It was also fantastic to see some of my collectors, good friends, and meet some lovely new people. It was a great experience. A solo show is very gratifying to see all of the work through different phases in one place and to hear and read thoughts of other artists as well as the local population.
How did it feel to share this new body of work with the community at Ashawagh Hall?
Well, it was exhilarating to see a body of 50 paintings dating back to my early days here in the 80s. It was such a mixture of the different styles and genres that I enjoy painting, and Asgawagh Hall is a local treasure. It connects people, and, through the many different exhibitions, shares our local history and heritage.
The Springs community is so vibrant. It’s like one big family. For me, community is where ideas flourish, and social energy sparks my creativity. Teaching and listening to others have always pushed me to be a better artist, to continue evolving.
Can you describe the inspiration behind the title Like No One?
The curator of the show, Haim Mizrahi, is amazing at coming up with creative titles for paintings and shows. He is the one that was excited to tell me that the title of the show was Like No One. He considers me a master painter, which is a real compliment. My paintings have been an inspiration to him during the 30 years that I have known him. He studies my strokes and the way I capture light and is a huge fan, which is very complimentary and, also, becomes an inspiration for me. He is a prolific artist in his own right, and we enjoy talking about art whenever he stops by my studio. I am so lucky to have such an encouraging and dedicated fan. It’s a lot of hard work to put a show together of this multifaceted breadth and dimension. There are a lot of different artistic, emotional, and representational expressions in the different pieces . . . it’s a lot to balance.
What has it been like to work with Haim Mizrahi as a curator?
Haim Mizrahi has more energy than 10 people put together. He curates shows almost every week, and he does a beautiful job, it’s amazing. I currently have 11 paintings in a show that Haim has curated at LTV Studios in Wainscott titled Sea Through River. He does a great job of curating, it’s a beautiful show. There are five other very talented artists in this show.
Can you talk about what inspired your work for this exhibition?
Over the years, the work has become deeply layered, personal, and shaped by decades of creative exploration, the different places we have traveled, my daughter growing up here in the Hamptons with the beautiful landscapes and light; I find constant inspiration. Also, friends have requested paintings of their children with their dogs or action figures, of their children doing cartwheels on the beach, and have asked me to do oil paintings for them. On my own, I find inspiration everywhere, the Hamptons exudes beauty wherever you look. The reflection of light on the water and in nature, even the texture of a muddy road and the reflection in a puddle. Nature of bounds! My work is a blend of the influences of life experience, personal philosophy, historical content, and a changing relationship with art.
How do you see this collection reflecting your evolution as an artist over six decades?
My work has evolved in so many different directions over the 60 years that I have been painting. I love painting in oil because it’s so versatile I can keep revisiting a painting and continue where I left off. It’s fascinating to see the way paintings evolve over time. Of course, when it is a commission, I don’t have that luxury. I see the collection, revealing naturalistic figures and realism in the earlier decades, and gradually leaving the figure out altogether in my abstract works. I do, however, love, figurative painting. I find the figure fascinating.
In the past, I have done paintings of a rabbit opening a backpack in Times Square during the times that people were setting off bombs. I’ve also made references to problems in the Middle East. It really depends on what’s going on in the world around me, my art is a reflection of that, and also, the peaceful surroundings here in the Hamptons. The “Hamptons light“ is famous among artists in the area.
Your work balances abstraction and realism. How do you navigate that relationship in your process?
There is an emotional connection to it. Balancing abstraction and realism is not something I strive for, however, it works often in the finished painting. I love to paint the figure and it’s fun to catch body language in the moment. The freedom of choice to express myself in any medium, including pastels, charcoals, and oil gives me the possibility of reaching people of many different aesthetics. There’s such a variety from figurative to landscape and now I’ve come to the point where I’m experimenting with abstract and leaving the figure out altogether. That being said, I’m always working on several paintings at the same time so there might be a landscape, an abstract, and a figurative painting. When it is a commission, it must reflect the vision of the client.
What do you hope people took away from the exhibition?
The creative community here in the Hamptons is so supportive for artists to share ideas and inspire each other. I found that people expressed to me the appreciation of my decades of exploration and the changes in the technique and perspective. There’s always an art opening somewhere filled with happy, engaged people. I am honored to be part of it. I feel very blessed to be contributing to the community. Being a part of this community for 60 years, has given me a profound sense of belonging. I hope that my work inspired and encouraged others.
To learn more about Michael and Sea Through River at LTV Studios, click here.
