Welcome to the digital gallery of Michel Balasis. Michel creates original pop art style paintings on canvas and graphic artwork for all print media. Please contact him to inquire about a purchase or to work with him on a commission piece.
e-mail:
mbalasi@luc.edu phone: (312) 405-4595
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Michel Balasis Bio
Born in France and raised by Greek parents in Michigan, Michel Balasis is a Pop Artist with a modern edge who draws from a wide range of life experiences. His bold graphic imagery is developed with heavy contour line while he references visual elements reminiscent of the Pop Art style circa 1960's New York.
A childhood filled with international travel and an acquired love for musical and applied arts are the basis for his continuing voyage into the art world. Painting in acrylics, Michel makes reference to popular culture derived from an addiction to cartoon and comic book imagery.
His work pushes context to the edge of visual communication as he continues to make subtle commentary about life in modern American society. Michel is influenced by everyday events in popular culture, as well as major artistic influences including the art of Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring and Pablo Picasso.
Michel maintains a studio and residence in Chicago. Currently a Professor of Visual Communication at Loyola University Chicago, he instructs classes in computer art and graphic design. Michel earned an MFA in Design from Michigan State University where he first began his research on the effect of technology on culture and the fine arts.
As a professional graphic designer, Michel has developed his stylized imagery with typography into the creation of a wide variety of printed material and marketing applications. His interest in new media includes developing and teaching graphic animation/multimedia art.
Michel began exhibiting paintings at age 23. His most recent work reflects a deeper investigation of his interpretation of the human interface and reaction to a mass media dominated culture.
The Pop Art style continues to drive his bold, dynamic, high contrast imagery. Michel works on a commission basis for collectors in between the development of new paintings which he hangs on display at the David Leonardis Gallery in Chicago.
