July 2–July 30, 2022
Steve Turner is pleased to present Four Hands, a solo exhibition by Barcelona-based Michael Swaney which features recent paintings that combine exuberantly painted gestures with childlike naivete. His folk-inspired images are drawn from YouTube videos, advertising and daily life. According to Swaney, his artistic vision is informed by the rebellious spirit of Art Brut, especially Jean Dubuffet, as well as the artists of the CoBrA group. Whatever the source or image, Swaney seeks to convey raw intuition.
Michael Swaney (b. 1978, Kimberley, British Columbia) earned a Diploma from Capilano University, Vancouver. He initially worked in Canada as part of the Humanfive artist collective before relocating to Barcelona in 2006. He has exhibited internationally since 2004, with solo exhibitions at galleries in Barcelona, Madrid, New York, Berlin and Miami. This is his first exhibition with Steve Turner.
Born 1978, Kimberley, British Columbia
Lives and works in Barcelona, Spain
Education
2000
Bachelor in Design & Illustration, Capilano University, Vancouver
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Four Hands, Steve Turner, Los Angeles
How Many Paintings in a Roll of Canvas?, NBB Gallery, Berlin
2021
Finger Family, Allouche Benias Gallery, Athens
Torrential Avalanche Sandwich, Breach, Miami
2019
Peanut Butter & Honey Moon, Sorry We’re Closed, Brussels
2018
Here I am, here I am, how do you do?, L21, Palma de Mallorca 2017 Ongange Lellow, Gnyp Gallery, Berlin
2016
Papisho, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus
2015
Physiology of Taste, Rafael Pérez Hernando, Madrid
Sculptures & Groceries, Louis 21 – The Envelope, Palma de Mallorca
2014
Subtropics, Krets, Malmö
Hut 1 Paintings 4, Blokker, Madrid
2013
Sleeping Beauty Painter, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark
You just got blogged, me & the curiosity, Barcelona
:•), noestudio, Madrid
2012
Efecto Dubuffet, Mulherin + Pollard, New York
Go West, Escala, Valencia, Spain
2011
Ding Dong, Alice Gallery, Brussels
Ancient Scrolls, Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts, Miami
2010
The Corner, Victor Saavedra, Barcelona
2009
Zulu Voodoo Buddha Guru, Iguapop Gallery, Barcelona
Safari Arc Performance, Locust Projects, Miami
2008
Butler’s Credit, Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects, Toronto
Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Red Deer, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver
Kick the Bucket, Galeria Victor Saavedra, Barcelona
2007
Artifacts from Finland, Iguapop Gallery, Barcelona
Gold in the Net, Atelier Gallery, Vancouver
The Gang’s All Here, Les Gallery, Vancouver
2006
Onoffonoffonoff, Art Firm, Calgary
2004
Spirit in the sky takes rest…, The Crying Room, Vancouver
X the owl and the land of make believe, Voice 1156 Gallery, San Diego
2003
Humanfive, Compound Gallery, Portland
Group Exhibitions
2022
NBB III, NBB Gallery, Berlin
2021
NBB PAPERWORKS VOL II, NBB Gallery, Berlin
Paper, BEERS London
CRYSTAL, Delimbo, Seville
Now Now, Breach, Miami
Perfect Conditions, Galerie Slika, Lyon
2020
Then and Now, Allouche Benias Gallery, Athens
The Edge of Chaos, The Newsstand Project, Los Angeles
2018
3 person show, Ever Gold Projects, San Francisco
As If A Field Could Become Some Dream, No Place, Columbus, Ohio
Velvet Ropes GIFC, David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen
2017
In Paper We Trust, The Dot Project, London
Three-way Ticket, Needles And Pens, San Francisco
21, Left Field Gallery, San Luis Obispo
2016
Grand Opening Show, Allouche Gallery, New York
Itch Under The Skin, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus
GIFC VOL 2-6, David Risley Gallery, Happy Ending, HAIK HQ, Steinsland Berliner, Agnes B’s Gallerie du Jour
Christmas Show, Versace Versace Versace, Miami
2015
Second Show, Eddys Room Gallery, New York
Art Copenhagen (with Charlotte Fogh Gallery)
Sun Spot, Big Medium Gallery at Canopy, Austin
Summer Mixer, Joshua Liner Gallery, New York
Crossing the Line, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus
Group show, Koelsch Gallery, Houston
Creative Expressions, College for Creative Studies, Detroit
Art Herning, Denmark (with Charlotte Fogh Gallery)
2014
Ingràvid, Galería Lola Ventós, Figueres
Swab Art Fair, Barcelona (with Charlotte Fogh Gallery)
Summertimes, Galeria Yusto/Giner, Marbela
Salat, CCA Andratx, Andratx, Spain
Artificilia, Cyan Gallery, Barcelona
Still Life, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus
Just Before Brazil, Alice Gallery, Brussels
Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Galería Astarté, Madrid
Lost in Space, Alice Gallery, Brussels
2013
The Hanging (w/ Huskmitnavn), Ruttkowski 68, Cologne
Whole, In Part, Artists’ Publications from the MACBA Collections, Leon
Groupshow, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm
Swab Art Fair (with me & the curiosity)
Living Video, Demolden, Santander, Spain
Wintershow, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus
2012
Art Copenhagen (with Alice Gallery and Charlotte Fogh Gallery)
Paperworld, Charlotte Fogh Gallery, Aarhus
Domesticated Souls, Alice Gallery, Brussels
Blaque Lyte, ADA Gallery, Richmond, Virginia
Esto no es graffiti, Cicus, Sevilla, Spain
Fun, Riihimäki Art Museum, Riihimäki, Finland
2011
Pulse Miami ( with Diana Lowenstein Fine Arts)
BYOB Barcelona, Fundació Met.room
Funky Pretty, Gallery Steinsland Berliner, Stockholm Art Brussels ( with Alice Gallery)
2010
pintura? cuatro respuestas, Adhoc Galeria, Vigo, Spain
Relationships, Galleri Christoffer Egelund, Copenhagen
Guasch Coranty Painting Prize exhibition, Centre d’Art Tecla Sala, Barcelona
Draw, Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City
Group show, Guerrero Gallery, San Francisco
To the road less travelled…, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen
2009
The Pop of Colors, POVevolving Gallery, Los Angeles
Hello My Name Is, Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects, Los Angeles
2008
SCOPE Miami (with Iguapop Gallery)
Landscape Portrait Pattern, Hallway Projects, San Francisco
Out of STH, Awangarda BWA, Wroclaw, Poland
White Noise Drawn Together, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen
How Clouds Dream, Deluge Contemporary, Victoria
Art Chicago (with Galerie Altxerri)
Art Cologne (with Galeria Altxerri)
SCOPE New York (with Iguapop Gallery)
White Noise, Space 1026, Philadelphia
2007
SCOPE Miami (with Iguapop Gallery)
Slump, Galeria Altxerri, San Sebastian
Swab Art Fair (with Iguapop Gallery)
2005
Humble Beginnings, Belkin Satelite, Vancouver
2002
Dollhouse, The Crying Room, Vancouver
It’s a Small World, Gallerie le Deco, Tokyo & Sis Boom Bah, Toronto
Suggestive Line, Belkin Satellite Gallery, Vancouver
2001
Live installation/performance with Humanfive, Helen Pitt Gallery, Vancouver
Residents, Bubble Gallery, Vancouver
Residencies
2019
Simcor Residency, Los Angeles
2014
CCA Aandratx Residency, Mallorca 2013 Noestudio, Madrid
2008
Fountainhead Residency, Miami
Bibliography
2016
“Ens Inspira,” TimeOut Barcelona, October 27 2015 “Agenda AD,” AD Magazine, April
Parades, Tomás. “Swaney, lo popular,”May 3
“Unintentional and Intuitive,” Metal Magazine, February 4
2014
Varela, Julia. “Internet es una choza,” Rtve, Siglo 21, February 19
Luis Sucasas, Angel. “En la caverna de Windows”, El Pais, March 2
2013
Bosco, Roberta. “Galérias ‘pop up,” El Pais, May 27
Blanco, Leticia. “Tu, yo y la curiosidad,” El Mundo – Tendencias, May 23
Suarez, Josina. “Mike Swaney y la pintura posinternet,” El Pais, February 25
2011
“Les Malins plaisirs de Michael Swaney,” Arts Libre, April 8
“Ding Dong,” Focus, April 15
2010
“Interview,” The Gutenberg’s Quarterly, Issue 2-Vol.01, May
Bufill, Juan. “El metarrealismo de Mike Swaney,” La Vanguardia, October 30
2009
“Barcelona: Arte Contra la Apatia,” El Pais, Xavi Sancho, October 2
Vargas, Marc. “Collage I Misteri a Iguapoop Gallery,” QueFem?, September 11
2008
Laurence, Robin. “Georgia Straight,” September 25
“Interview” Beautiful Decay Magazine, Issue X
2007
“Interview” Redux Mag #25, Fall Issue
“Arte expontaneo, sin fisuras,” Gipuzkoa, November
Javier Fernandez, Jose. “Entre dos culturas,” Diario Vasco, November
“Interview” Modart, Issue 13
