Michael Paul Miller

The Laura Russo Gallery is pleased to introduce the work of Michael Paul Miller to the Portland arts community. His exhibition, The Present End, features large scale oil paintings in the tradition of grand historic tableaux, exploring visions of a post apocalyptic era of destruction and survival. Set in counterpoint are a series of intimate studies of human mandibles hovering in rich, dark landscapes. Miller’s virtuosity with his oil medium contributes to a beautiful body of work that draws the viewer into ominous scenes of environmental or human caused destruction. He observes that his work “explores the sublimity of existence through an environment emblematic of death, disaster, and desolation, without abandoning subtle indications of hope and beauty. This deconstructive setting is a harrowing and plausible circumstance that allows for an open-ended inquiry into the bewildering human condition, and enables the subject matter to address an extensive range of contemporary issues.” The painted results of his inquiry will captivate the viewer and likely raise more questions than they answer.