MICHAEL KLEIN

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Selected Sold Works:

"The copyist, someone who is relying entirely on the information in front of them, is at the whim of what is being dictated to them, while the master artist can take the information provided and use it to tell the story that they want to say, rather than be at the mercy of exactly what is before them."  - Michael Klein 

Michael Klein grew up in North Dakota where rodeo was part of the local culture.  His childhood memories were so strong that this unique series came about without the intention of showing them publicly.  The artist has been working on a "bulldogging" series for over two years.  Steer wrestling, also known as bulldogging, is a rodeo event in which a horse-mounted rider chases a steer, drops from the horse to the steer, then wrestles the steer to the ground by grabbing its horns and pulling it off-balance so that it falls to the ground.

It wasn't until a chance meeting with artist friend, Scott Burdick, that he was encouraged to present these works to Maxwell Alexander Gallery.  Klein and MA Gallery have had a long lasting 8 year relationship, mainly showing works by Klein from his floral and equine series.  When presented with a fresh look at western culture, Maxwell Alexander Gallery director, Beau Alexander, encouraged Klein to continue developing the works for an exhibition in the new Pasadena gallery. 

Klein is a classically trained artist, whose studies took him all over the world, from NYC and beyond - his vision and understanding of art are so elevated that he was sought after to open and curate the recently opened New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art in Massachusetts.  With his travels taking him to the Southwest, this new series is a combination of his childhood memories, on location sketches, and video reference.  His naturalist style comes across with more action than a floral, but the paint application and mastery of the figure are front and center.