About Kalish
When Kalish combined pop culture and Americana with the object of his fascination, the heretofore “lowly license plate” was elevated from the junkyard to the museum, from garages and highways to the living room wall. In the process, he became the artist responsible for creating a new genre, winning international acclaim, and setting his expectations-defying career into motion.
Out of the utilitarian and overlooked, Kalish fashions works of steely confidence, proudly displaying their wear, patina and rust as a tribute to that which endures. His license plate works include homages to America itself. His roses, both framed and freestanding are made from automobile parts; their surprising voluptuousness led to solo exhibitions in Museums and Galleries in Stockholm, Geneva, Los Angeles, and New York. His giant abstracts, composed of recycled classic car parts from the 50’s and 60’s, triumphantly declare their resurrections. His three-dimensional editions, constructed of high-gloss metal layers, playfully interact with viewers, affording unique experiences depending upon their vantage points.
Monumental outdoor installations by Kalish include: the historic and AIA Sculpture of the Year Award-Winning Muhammad Ali tribute, “reALIze,”- wherein 1300 punching bags suspended 22-feet high conspire to form a three-dimensional rendering of the heavyweight champion’s famous face, a series of two dozen towering pinwheels engineered on behalf of COPD awareness- exhibited at the Tampa Museum of Art, as well as “Raise The Caliber”, a monumental public work made of reclaimed guns designed as a statement against violence, The Art of Finding Love, a series of interactive abstract sculptures that ask the viewer to interact with the sculpture until “finding love,” and the most recent, “Illuminating a Path,” which pays reverence to education lighting the way to a child’s bright future. In addition, his monumental 20 foot floral- bloom aluminum and steel sculptures are continuously commissioned by cities across the country.
Embraced by critics, dealers, and an impressive list of contemporary art collectors, Michael Kalish’s original roses, abstracts, and limited edition dimensional works, as well as his legendary license plate sculptures are featured in the collections of world leaders, fortune 100 companies, past Presidents, professional athletes, and musicians. His unique position as a preeminent arbiter of style and taste has led to features in People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Details, Wired, ArtNews and the feature of stories on CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, E! MSN, TLC, and most recently the host of Discovery Channel’s- “Final Offer”.
