In 1979, I had my first formal art exhibit when I was 8 years old with my father, Lito Mayo (Father and Son -Lito and Michelangelo Mayo Exhibition, Print Collection, Inc., Manila, Philippines). My art education started under the tutelage of Lito Mayo, one of the prominent print makers in the Philippines. At a very young age, I was immersed in graphic art, various printing processes, and drawing techniques. Furthermore, my father and I have also produced several collaborative works that centered on experimental collage and assemblages. Most of these works were exhibited in Hiraya Gallery and the Philippine Association of Printmakers Gallery. After my father’s untimely passing in 1983, my family moved to my current residence in San Jose, California.
My academic background has been in the field of Microbiology and Clinical Science. I have a B.S. in Medical Microbiology and Immunology with minor studies in Art History and Chemistry from San Jose State University and a postgraduate certification in Clinical Laboratory Science from San Francisco State University. The fusion of pure science and art has contributed to my unique approach in visual works. Since 2000, I have been involved in the International Fluxus and Dada movements as a member of the International Union of Mail-Artists. From 2005 to the present time, I have focused on art as vernacular for community outreach and as a tool for various educational projects. I have contributed actively in Mail Art and Artistamp exhibitions nationally and internationally. My works have been published by the Artistamp Museum (USA), Angry Old Man Magazine (USA) , FaxBox Arts Cabaret Project (Ireland). Moreover, my mixed-media creations have been exhibited in Turkey, Netherlands, France, Puerto Rico, Brazil, etc. Moreover, I joined GACCE (Global Artists’ Creative Collaboration for Empowerment), an international organization sponsored and funded by the New York Foundation for the Arts in 2018.
Fractured images and directionless drawings have fascinated me lately. I am interested in the synthesis of compartmentalized doodles and abrupt textures with randomized color schemes to make a composition that is full of different narratives and points of views that allow countless interpretations and impressions . I am also incorporating various image transfer techniques into my works. The resurgence in collage works and photographic imagery in paintings and visual works has also made current influences in my present endeavor.
art in my mind's eye
Art is derived from images that are extracted from an overwhelming and never ending vicious cycle of constructing and catabolic breakdown of thoughts and musings. Michelangelo Mayo approaches his art with a broad array of influences and interests. He endeavors in graphic and digital art techniques, drawing, image manipulations, and paintings. He fuses images and textures into an amalgam of abstract and pop art creations with tendencies toward experimental methods and emerging modern techniques. At present, he has been drawn into investigating and discovering broad new ideas among the multiple relationships of artistic introspection, organic biological concepts, mundane realities, modern and popular philosophies, and psychological expressions. As an artist with a solid background in science, Michelangelo applies his technical knowledge and observations of the natural and social world to create a personable connection that expresses varying views pertaining to contemporary visual realities and understanding of modern social phenomena.
Selected Exhibits/Works
2020 World Collage Day
http://twincitiescollagecollective.com/world-collage-day-2020/ Minneapolis/St. Paul, USA
2020 World Collage Day
http://twincitiescollagecollective.com/world-collage-day-2020/ Minneapolis/St. Paul, USA
2017 In Places - LAMOSA, Cuenca, Spain
The FAXBOX PROJECT-ARTS CABARET 15, Roscommon, Ireland
Kaiser Permanente Family Festival Art Exhibition, Santa Clara, California,USA
PAIN 2- Exhibition, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
“Antonym” -Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina -Florianópolis, Brasil
"Velimir Khlebnikov.Visual Poetry" - Velimir Khlebnikov Museum- Novgorod, Russia
"Masculine Violence II" - Island Cultural Association - Beşiktaş – İstanbul , Turkey
2014 "Dada!" Artistamp - Inter DadA 2014 -San Francisco DADA World Fair- San Francisco, California, USA
2013 “ Stickers: Stuck-Up Piece of Crap: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art” - Travelling Exhibition- curated by DB Burkeman- USA
2010 "Life In Four Stages" Artistamp - Gina Lotta Post Artistamp Museum - Florida, USA
2004 "Bikini" Artistamp - Mail Art Exhibition - Barcelona, Spain
2003 "Carmina Burana" Mail Art Exhibition- Buenos Aires, Argentina
1997 San Jose State University- Spartan Daily Editorial Cartoons. Print- San Jose, California, USA
1988 University of Santo Tomas, Department of Psychology Art & Science Fair- Manila, Philippines
1982 EXPERIMENTAL EXHIBITION- Lito Mayo w/ son Michelangelo Mayo- Rear Room, Manila Garden, Makati
1979 Father and Son (Lito and Michelangelo Mayo) Exhibition, Print Collection, Inc., Manila
Bibliography/Publications
David, Drew B., editor. “Art|Visuals*.” Angry Old Man Magazine, Sept. 2017, pp. 72–73. Michelangelo Mayo | Two Mixed Media Pieces: semantics of life (2017) and gene talking (2017). Print and Online
Lloyd, Ginny. Inter DADA84 - True DADA Confessions. Florida: Tropichacha, 2015. Print.
Lloyd, Ginny. Gina Lotta Post Artistamp Museum and Archive Catalog. Vol. 4. Florida: TropiChaCha, 2014. Print.
Lloyd, Ginny. Gina Lotta Post Artistamp Museum and Archive Catalog. Vol. 1. Florida: TropiChaCha, 2012. Print.
De Jesus, Angel G. "Graphic Artists Pay Tribute to Lito Mayo." Business Day [Manila] 1983, Vignettes Column sec.: 12+. Print.
Collections
Private, Monterey, California
Private, San Jose, California
Private, Salinas, California
Island Cultural Association, Turkey
Velimir Klebnikov Museum, Novgorod, Russia
Gina Lotta Post Artistamp Museum, Florida, USA
DB Burkeman, New York, USA