Before dedicating himself full-time to painting and printmaking, Michael Giliberti had a thriving career as a creative director in corporate advertising. His journey into the world of art was inspired by his passion for photography, coupled with his background as an illustrator. Michael Giliberti pursued his artistic education, studying graphic design at UCLA and Parsons School of Design in New York, and printmaking at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
Vying for the attention of the observer, the playful shapes
and bright lights of roadside signs have left lasting impressions on the
artist. They became one of the irresistible sources of inspiration for his
mixed media works on canvas. His keen interest in Mid-Century Modern
architecture, swimming pools, and society pervades all his works. Giliberti muses,
“I paint subjects that may be familiar to people or attract their attention;
maybe a place they’ve visited, or possibly somewhere they’d like to go.”
Giliberti’s work exemplifies Modernism
and in particular modern wall art. His original paintings are characterized by
vivid colors and powerful compositions. He
translates his photographs into a complex layering of acrylic paint on canvas
to add depth with new color combinations and subtle textures. As a result, each
artwork evolves and changes from the first stroke to the last.
“I take a number of my own photographs of the
subjects and use them as references for the process of translating my vision to the canvas. I also incorporate original illustrations that add new dimensions to the artwork. A rough outline of the piece is created in
pencil or ink. I block the areas to be painted with a light color tint as a
guide for the finished piece. I then have
it enlarged to the desired size on 100% cotton canvas and add the final colors
with a wash of acrylic paint or silkscreen ink. The colors and lighting continue to change as I carefully layer the
paint. I challenge myself on each new piece as I work at a discipline that I
find stimulating and fulfilling.”
