Local artist holds first exhibit
La Tisha Clayton | Staff Writer
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Colorful silkscreen-plastered collages, pen and ink smeared drawings, chiseled metal etchings, original wood and linoleum based paintings, exquisitely detailed pencil portraits and spray-paint decorated walls.
These are the kinds of pieces art lovers can expect to see while viewing Mike Hoffman’s work.
“Mike’s artwork is raw with real urban appeal”, says Kris Gupton, owner of the Shiny Nickel Art Gallery “His artwork is a constant, external reflection of his deep thoughts and personal experiences.”
Hoffman, a City College art major, recently held his first public exhibition, “No Frames Needed”. It was featured at the Shiny Nickel Art Gallery Aug. 8 – Sept. 8. The name of the exhibit was inspired by Hoffman’s inability to afford frames and his belief that his artwork speaks for itself —no frames needed.
However, he painted unique frames on the wall behind each one of his pieces on display. He says his favorite piece in the collection is called “Run Da Bay”. It is a painting of the Golden Gate Bridge intertwined with other aspects of the Bay Area, which took him 14 months to complete.
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Hoffman says he has been drawing since sixth grade and expanded his artistic abilities in the 10th grade by moving on to painting and ceramics.
After high school, Hoffman decided to major in art at Shasta College in Redding, Calif. The first painting he created there — an untitled collage that featured pictures of the American flag; a man’s mouth with the word “censored” covering it; a hand grenade behind the man’s head — was featured in a school art show. He continued his educational and artistic endeavors as he migrated to other cities, including Sacramento.
A majority of Hoffman’s artwork has a distinctly urban appeal with intense imagery, colors, and materials that combine mixed-media. He says his style represents Perked, a lifestyle he lives by and the clothing line he started in 1999.
“Perked is this hazy dream state that I live in,” Hoffman says. “Dream your life and live your dreams. I’m just trying to balance the two and make my dreams a reality.”
Hoffman cites many inspirations for the work he creates, including photography realist Chuck Close, muralist David Choe and even gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
He says he is also inspired by graffiti art and San Francisco, which he claims represents “realness.”
Hoffman says he plans to expand on his artistic endeavors while inspiring others through his work.