In his work, Michael Cline (*1973, Cape Canaveral, FL, lives in New York)
portrays scenes of a contemporary fable. Stemming from his interest in
faith and the American Dream, he depicts America on a perpetual journey
of self-discovery, endlessly constructing utopias in an attempt to
realize a perfect union with the individual, the group, or a god. Examples
of this journey might include teachings found in various evangelical and
occult faiths. With a style reminiscent of George Grosz and
Pierre Klossowski, Cline paints what seem to be disenfranchized groups and
individuals in search of a meaningful existence. Executed with pristine
innocence and a quirky folksiness, Cline's canvases are dreamily
dystopian, using pastel tones and chaste illustration to depict instances
of violence, sex, or subtle horror.
