Michael Irwin Art
Casting shadows and seeking joy
“Rights and Lefts”
Mike and Nate in the studio with the Southern Steelhead!
“Rights and Lefts”
Mike and Nate in the studio with the Southern Steelhead!
The “lumis” are reflective metal pieces that reflect ambient color, creating a luminous ever changing presence. They are meant to be a source of calm and optimism.
24” x 40”
Acrylic on burnished aluminum
40” x 40”
Acrylic on burnished aluminum
24” x 40”
Burnished aluminum
30” x 30”
Acrylic on burnished aluminum
40” x 40”
Burnished aluminum
36" 36"
Acrylic on Panel
2010
$750
36" 36"
Acrylic on Panel
2010
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2015
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2014
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2013
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2014
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2014
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2014
47" x 59"
Acrylic on Panel
2013
47" x 59"
Acrylic on Panel
2013
59 1/2" x 48"
Acrylic on Panel
2015
40" x 64"
Acrylic on Panel
2010
47" x 47"
Acrylic on Panel
2010
80" x 108"
Acrylic on Panel
2009
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2015
95" x 40"
Acrylic on Panel
2016
47" x 78"
Acrylic on Panel
2014
53" x 83"
2009
40" x 40"
Acrylic on Panel
2007
36" x 40"
Acrylic on Panel
2006
40" x 60"
Acrylic on Panel
2014
53" x 83"
Acrylic on Panel
2008
36" x 50"
Acrylic on Panel
2012
This series of Southern Steelhead were painted collaboratively by Michael and his son Nathan. The paintings are a call to action; bringing attention to the fact that we are losing a keystone species right here in Santa Barbara County. The Santa Ynez River has been blocked by Bradbury Dam and Lake Cachuma for the past 70 years. The dam was built without a fish passage, causing the population of Southern Steelhead in this watershed to be decimated. The river once supported upwards of 30,000 Southern Steelhead. That number has been reduced by 99%. It is time to put in a fish passage over Bradbury Dam so that these fish can have a fighting chance to reach their spawning grounds and repopulate their home waters.
47” x 72” x 2”
Mixed Media on Panel
42” x 60” x 2”
Mixed Media on Canvas
42” x 72” x 2”
Mixed Media on Panel
Michael creates his own shaped canvas by hand. His works come toward you in 3-dimensions, layers of painted surfaces catching light and throwing shadow patterns on the walls. Color, shapes and exotic materials combine to spin a vortex of high intensity energy.
33" x 46"
Mixed media on canvas
2005
40" x 96"
Mixed media on canvas
2004
84" x 108"
Mixed media on canvas
1988
36" x 64"
Mixed media on canvas
2004
54" x 72"
Mixed media on canvas
1988
60" x 74"
Mixed media on canvas
1984
40" x 40"
Mixed media on canvas
1985
36" x 96"
Mixed media on canvas
1985
40" x 40"
Mixed media on canvas
1986
72" x 96"
Mixed media on canvas
1984
60" x 74"
Mixed media on canvas
1984
60" x 50"
Mixed media on canvas
1988
94" x 26"
Mixed media on canvas
1988
75" x 46"
Mixed media on canvas
1985
84" x 60"
1986
94" x 46"
1988
72" x 34"
Mixed media on canvas
1987
78" x 70"
Aircraft aluminum and freeway signs
1990
24" x 50"
Aircraft aluminum and origami freeway signs
1989
56" x 46"
Aircraft aluminum
1988
98" x 32"
Aircraft aluminum
1988
32" x 92"
Aircraft aluminum and freeway signs
1988
80" x 68"
Aircraft aluminum and freeway signs
1988
96" x 72"
Aircraft aluminum, freeway signs, steel and wood
1988
62" x 30"
Aircraft aluminum and freeway signs
1988
35" x 24"
Mixed media on aluminum
1988
jalkfjalkfjlakfja
144" x 28"
Steel
1994
22" x 150"
Aluminum
1988
60" x 48"
Aluminum
2015
40" x 18" x 24"
Aluminum
1988
92" x 20" x 5"
Fresco
2012
36' x 216"
Aluminum
2005
44" x 22" x 18"
Ceramic
1994
22" x 150"
Aluminum
1988
76"x 40"
Aircraft aluminum and steel
1988
96" x 96" x 84"
1989
144" x 44"
Aluminum
1985
Michael was a champion swimmer, Newport Beach lifeguard, collegiate water polo player and coach, and has surfed since he could walk. The ocean is coursing through his veins and it is apparent in the feeling tone behind his Wavescapes. Each painting has the ability to take you someplace far away with perfect waves and no-one for miles.
40" x 108"
Acrylic on panel
2014
12" x 36"
Acrylic on panel
2014
24" x 36"
Acrylic on panel
2010
50" x 40"
Acrylic on panel
2013
24" x 36"
Acrylic on panel
2009
30" x 40"
Acrylic on panel
2012
18" x 36"
Acrylic on panel
2008
16" x 40"
Acrylic on panel
2013
Michael Irwin Studios
121 Santa Barbara Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
