Mike Peter Smith
"Vendor Carts ", 2004
cast urethane, plastic, brass, putty, printer, cyanoacrylate, and wood
48" x 32" x 32" (dimensions of table)
"Untitled (Campfire) ", 2004
blue foam, urethane, wood, paper mache, plastic, gouache, and charcoal
18" x 11" x 11"
"Track Wreck", 2004
blue foam, urethane, paper mache, and more, 17"x12"x24"
"Conference Room", 2003
cast urethane, styrene, sintra, ABS plastic, and more

click on the thumbnails above for a larger image

Artist Statement

My sculptures of scale models explore vulnerability. Employing exacting construction, these vessels, figures, and environments are suspended in unending moments. Vessels appear armed yet impotent. Characters find themselves caught in curious irresolvable situations. Environments are barren, containing subtle evidence of unexplained occurences.

Exposed substrate, raw materials, or armature suggest the process of making. This interrupts the narrative, and the object acknowledges itself as “prop” or “prototype”. Artifice functions as a storytelling device, reframing the narrative.

As dilemmas enter into these model worlds, mythic problems of self-identity, isolation, and vulnerability emerge. These miniatures allow for a safe controlled analysis of inner fears and private anxieties.

Mike Peter Smith

Born 1972 in Hemet, California. Brought up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lives and works in New York.

Education
2000 MFA in Sculpture, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1997 BFA in Sculpture, Minor in Mathematics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Solo Exhibitions
2004 John in the Desert, Jeff Bailey Gallery, New York, NY
2003 Bad Star, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997 Specific Objects, Finch Lane, Salt Lake City, UT

Group Exhibitions
2004 Queens International 2004, Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY
Face Off, Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York, NY
Priority, Art in General Benefit Auction, New York, NY
Some Exhaust, Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York, NY
Constructed Realities, Southeastern Louisiana University -
Center for Contemporary Art, Hammond, LA
Cakewalk, Ambrosino Gallery, Miami, FL
Art Chicago, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL, International Art Fair
Terrorvision, Exit Art, New York, NY
AIM 24, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
The Armory Show, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, New York, NY, International Art Fair
Scope New York, Jack the Pelican Presents, New York, NY, International Art Fair
Plane and Elevation, Art In General, New York, NY
2003 Doing Business <Dysfunctional Corporate Culture>, Contemporary Art Galleries -
University of Connecticut, Storrs & Stamford, CT, Traveling Exhibition
Art Chicago, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL, International Art Fair
Plastic Fantastic, 1926 Exhibition Studies Space, Chicago, IL,
Art Work, Chela Gallery, Baltimore, MD
American Dream, Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York, NY
2002 The Storefront, Weather Records, Brooklyn, NY
Art Chicago, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL, International Art Fair
2001 Escape, Standard Gallery, Chicago, IL
Light, Renaissance Society Benefit Auction, Chicago, IL
Models and Materials, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL
The Summer Show, Gallery 312, Chicago, IL
Multiples, NFA Space and Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL
2000 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
Fantastic Voyage, 6100 S. Blackstone, Chicago, IL
New Talent 2, Contemporary Art Workshop, Chicago, IL
Electraslip Knife, 2153 W. Division, Chicago, IL
MFA Thesis Exhibition, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1999 The Multiples Show, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Gallery 2, Chicago, IL
1998 The Multiples Show, Bodybuilder & Sportsman Gallery, Chicago, IL
Mixed Media & Works on Paper, Union Pacific Depot Building, Salt Lake City, UT

Awards/Grants/Lectures
2004 Artist In The Marketplace Program, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY,
2003 Visiting Artist, Sculpture Department Lecture, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2002 Slide Slam, Art In General, New York, NY, Group Slide Lecture
2001 Visiting Artist, Parson School of Design, NY, NY, Foundation 3D Design Class Lecture
2000 MFA Graduate Fellowship, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
First Year Program Lecture Series, SAIC, Chicago, IL, Group Slide Lecture
1999 First Place Custom Action Figure Contest, Toyfare Magazine, Congers, NY
1997 Individual Artist’s Grant, The Utah Arts Council, Salt Lake City, UT

Reviews
2004 The New York Times, Grace Glueck, Friday, October 1
Shortlist, ‘Some Exhaust’, The Village Voice, Kim Levin, September 8-14
Escape From The Ordinary, NY Arts, Danielle Augusta Cannon, July/August 2004
Multimedia celebration of the tart and quirky, The Miami Herald, Elisa Turner, June 29
Batter Up, Miami New Times, Michelle Weinberg, June 10
2003 Biting the Hand That Feeds Them, The New York Times, Benjamin Genocchio, December 7
Handle With Care, The Baltimore City Paper, Blake de Pastino, April 23
2001 A Meticulous Dane, The Chicago Tribune, Alan G. Artner, August 17

Contact Information
Mike Peter Smith
2571 31st St. #14
Astoria, NY 11102
718-726-7834
favorite_burrito@yahoo.com