b. 1951, North Dakota and Lives in New York City

C. Michael Norton’s paintings thrive on a balance between vibrancy and neutrality; between the organic and the geometric. The works begin as bare linen canvas taped to the floor to collect random markings picked up from works in progress. Relying then upon his intuitive reactions to what has been collected, Norton masterfully utilizes a number of methods of paint application, including using tape to create lattice-like forms, and squeegeeing layers of paint, to create energetic and surprising compositions. The finished works feature layer upon layer of explosive color, membranes across the linen ground that read as negative space, and forms that at once are at odds with one another and yet rhythmically flow across the surface of the paintings.

He has shown at institutional venues such as the Sunshine International Museum and the Fifth Beijing International Biennale at the National Art Museum of China, Beijing; and the San Francisco Museum of Art, San Francisco, California. His solo exhibitions have taken place at Morris-Warren Gallery (formally Brian Morris Gallery), Barbara Greene Fine Art, Tama Gallery, and FiveMyles, all in New York; Art Virus LTD and Thomas Punzmann Fine Art, Frankfurt, Germany; Museo Civico d’Arte Contemporanea, Albissola, Italy; Galerie Bercovy-Fugier, Paris; Galerie Capazza, Paris/Nançay, France; Galerie Christine Le Chanjour, Nice, France; and Gallery Jean Yves Noblet, Paris/Grenoble, France. Art fair appearances include FICA, Paris; ArtFair, Cologne; and Arco, International Contemporary Art Fair, Madrid. Norton’s work has been reviewed in Art in America, Art News, Artcritical, Black Renaissance Noire, Art Daily, and numerous other publications.