Michael Dolen

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Michael Dolen’s most recent work explores the theme of the circus: a site earmarked as being an imbricated network of activity, often involving rituals, risk, and sudden climaxes. Reflecting this carnivalesque energy, Dolen’s works use a variety of media; doing so, they capture the essence of the circus as a cross-section of chaotic forces. Figures are typically revealed only in mask, and only through the lens of a perspective that melds the wilding distortion of funhouse mirrors with the exacting rules of Cubist proportion. In the mixed-media work Circus Figures 921V, the visual center of the painting depicts two jesters engaged in a seemingly impossible acrobatic maneuver. The detail with which the figures are rendered willfully contrasts with the jazzy abstraction that fills out the left- and right-side of the picture. Because each figure — the main attraction, so to speak — is rendered with such care, the visual noise at the picture’s margins takes on symbolic meaning. The abstract markings come to compose an audience, a throng of anonymous faces bedazzled by the spectacle of the two jesters performing an athletic feat. Influenced by Modernism and Abstract Expressionism while studying art at The Cooper Union, Dolen has built on those traditions and taken them in a new direction. With over 30 years of experience as a graphic designer, he applies the clarity of that discipline to the sensuous forms and lush colors he employs, creating a unique, engaging body of work. The artist lives and works in New York City.

Featured Artworks
Tintoretto’s Daughter
Afternoon in Guadeloupe
Morning in Guadeloupe
Matrix 820B
Battle of Saratoga
Travels with L.
Travels with Cy
Two Travelers
Evening at Peter Island
Hero 289A
Hero 312D
Matrix 606 H
Matrix 505 F
Hero/L.
Hero/Flower 678A
Hero Flower 222B
Hero/Flower
Acrobat
Juggler
Circus Gala 2
Circus Gala 1
Circus Performer with a Cat
Circus Performer: After The Show 932V
Circus Figures 819G
Circus Portraits: Second Movement 874M
Two Circus Performers 143F
Three Circus Performers 177S
Two Circus Performers and a Flute Player 752M
Circus Figure: Portrait 713P
Two Circus Figures With A Fan 584G
Two Circus Figures And Friend 123A
Three Circus Performers 452J
Two Circus Figures On The Nile 313D
Portrait: Circus Performer 571R
Circus Performer with Profile 387F
Circus Performer: Solo Performance 185V
Woman With a Postcard
Prophets Around the Edge
Sunday in Saratoga
A Journal: Bits and Pieces
Bassa Nova
Punta Marona
Day Train
Battle of Salamis

Michael Dolen

Tintoretto’s Daughter

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Michael Dolen’s most recent work explores the theme of the circus: a site earmarked as being an imbricated network of activity, often involving rituals, risk, and sudden climaxes. Reflecting this carnivalesque energy, Dolen’s works use a variety of media; doing so, they capture the essence of the circus as a cross-section of chaotic forces. Figures are typically revealed only in mask, and only through the lens of a perspective that melds the wilding distortion of funhouse mirrors with the exacting rules of Cubist proportion. In the mixed-media work Circus Figures 921V, the visual center of the painting depicts two jesters engaged in a seemingly impossible acrobatic maneuver. The detail with which the figures are rendered willfully contrasts with the jazzy abstraction that fills out the left- and right-side of the picture. Because each figure — the main attraction, so to speak — is rendered with such care, the visual noise at the picture’s margins takes on symbolic meaning. The abstract markings come to compose an audience, a throng of anonymous faces bedazzled by the spectacle of the two jesters performing an athletic feat. Influenced by Modernism and Abstract Expressionism while studying art at The Cooper Union, Dolen has built on those traditions and taken them in a new direction. With over 30 years of experience as a graphic designer, he applies the clarity of that discipline to the sensuous forms and lush colors he employs, creating a unique, engaging body of work. The artist lives and works in New York City.

Tintoretto’s Daughter

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Afternoon in Guadeloupe

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Morning in Guadeloupe

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Matrix 820B

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Battle of Saratoga

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Travels with L.

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Travels with Cy

Mixed Media on Paper
23" x 18"

Two Travelers

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Evening at Peter Island

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Hero 289A

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Hero 312D

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Matrix 606 H

Mixed Media on Canvas
24" x 18"

Matrix 505 F

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Hero/L.

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Hero/Flower 678A

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Hero Flower 222B

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Hero/Flower

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Acrobat

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Juggler

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Circus Gala 2

Mixed Media on Foam Board
55" x 16"

Circus Gala 1

Mixed Media on Foam Board
58" x 20"

Circus Performer with a Cat

Mixed Media on Paper
36" x 24"

Circus Performer: After The Show 932V

Mixed Media on Paper
36" x 24"

Circus Figures 819G

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 36"

Circus Portraits: Second Movement 874M

Wood-Cut & Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 36"

Two Circus Performers 143F

Mixed Media on Paper
48" x 36"

Three Circus Performers 177S

Mixed Media on Paper
48" x 36"

Two Circus Performers and a Flute Player 752M

Mixed Media on Paper
48" x 36"

Circus Figure: Portrait 713P

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 36"

Two Circus Figures With A Fan 584G

Mixed Media on Paper
36" x 24"

Two Circus Figures And Friend 123A

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 36"

Three Circus Performers 452J

Mixed Media on Paper
36" x 24"

Two Circus Figures On The Nile 313D

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 36"

Portrait: Circus Performer 571R

Mixed Media on Paper
48" x 36"

Circus Performer with Profile 387F

Mixed Media on Paper
36" x 24"

Circus Performer: Solo Performance 185V

Mixed Media on Paper
36" x 48"

Woman With a Postcard

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Prophets Around the Edge

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Sunday in Saratoga

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

A Journal: Bits and Pieces

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Bassa Nova

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Punta Marona

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Day Train

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

Battle of Salamis

Mixed Media on Paper
24" x 18"

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View Michael Dolen's Past Exhibitions

The Infinity of Thoughts
50" x 50" - Acrylic on Canvas
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