Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikel Frank. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Mikel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was 10 years old my mother, who was taking a painting class, said her teacher wanted a young model to sit for the class. I said I would really like to do that. The teacher put a baseball cap on my head and a baseball bat in my lap and I sat for a number of sessions. I think I even got paid for it. After a few weeks went by and the 5 painters were finished, I was surprised and impressed at how different each interpretation of me was. This was when I decided that I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. I had talent inherited from my mother and in high school I discovered how much I enjoyed being creative and making paintings. And I am always experimenting with new materials and processes because I know that my interpretation of things is what really makes the difference. I am now, finally, a full time artist and my plate and my creative spirit is full.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The motivation to pursue a career in art making first came to me when I was 10 years old, when I modeled for my mother’s painting class. Years later, In high school, I was always hanging out in the art room making something. Art seemed to be a calling and I followed it. After high school I was accepted into a liberal arts program and spent a year putting a portfolio together so I could apply to art schools. I was accepted into the bachelor of fine arts program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). After graduating with a BFA I went out to San Francisco and studied at the S. F. Art Institute. There I met a few very inspirational artists. I was inspired. But, the west coast did not feel like the right fit for me and so I came back east and was accepted into the master degree program at Pratt Institute. This was an intense and motivational atmosphere of wonderful teachers and artists. I discovered how important it is to my creative process to work with other artists, talk about art, and discuss one another’s thinking and techniques while making art. This collaborative spirit led me to my first important collaboration with Gerard Amsellem. We painted together synchronously for about 10 years while continuing to create other works and working our day jobs to pay the bills. Together Gerard and I created many large scale multi-panel paintings and mixed media collages. In 2014, I retired from my long standing (29 years) job at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. I was finally able to devote all my time to my art journey. In 2016, I moved to Charlotte, NC where I am still busy being creative and delving into different levels of the art community here. First, I was a docent at The Mint Museum. Then I began teaching college level art courses at two local colleges. I then began another intense collaboration with Barbara Ellis, an abstract painter that has very similar sensibilities as me. We created 15 large paintings together culminating into a huge exhibition called “The Big Ass Canvas Show.” It was a great success in terms of reactions and reviews. However, we have yet to make any big money sales. I am currently the President of the Board of the Guild of Charlotte Artists. This is a volunteer job and I have been able to meet and collaborate some excellent artists through out membership of 370 and our 11 member board. We organize shows, art markets and presentations for our members. The biggest problem with being an abstract mixed media artist in the south is that nobody really understands or appreciates the value of abstraction. That said, I had some successes with selling, but it leaves much to be desired. My main thrust now is to exhibit, teach and collaborate. My website displays my work well and I try to market my work and my exhibitions and other involvements on Instagram. As a member of an international collaborative collective, Global Art Project, I am very active and able to exhibit my work Internationally. As an independent artist, I find it difficult to get the word out and get folks interested in buying work. Not jus my work, but any art works now. Times are tough, but I keep on making art. That’s the key to success, practice and get better at what you do.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I graduated from Pratt Institute with an MFA in painting, I wanted to create something that would be grounded in community. I found an unfinished building on Washington Street in Brooklyn and put together a group of fellow former Pratt students and created The Space. This was a group of about 10 artists who needed work space.
It was a really great collaboration and we enjoyed the freedom and each other’s support. I did not have a job and so I was trying my hand at getting into galleries and exhibitions. That was short lived as trying to break into the gallery world in NYC was near impossible. So, I decided to pivot and begin my job search. In order to do that, I thought it would be good to learn a skill. So, I went to Center for the Media Arts and got a certificate in audio engineering. This led to an interview at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and I got the stage manager job in the Concerts & Lectures Department. I stayed for 29 years while continuing to be involved in the local art scene where I lived in N.J.
The Met, was a great community and I made a lot of friends and met many talented artists. It was a necessary pivot for me to establish myself as a professional, to settle down, get married and raise a family.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After retiring from The Met Museum We moved to Charlotte, NC because my wife worked for Wells Fargo and was offered a position as mortgage closer in Charlotte. I didn’t want to go, but I did. It took some time to get acclimated and my goal was to get immersed and accepted in the Charlotte art community. I started by becoming a docent at the local Mint Museum and that led to a college level teaching job. I also became a member of Global Art Project. This move took me into the international collaborative world of art making. Since I took early retirement, I was now able to devote all my time to teaching and making art. I became immersed in the art community and now have a great studio space at the Visual And Performing Arts Center (VAPA) and am President of the board of Guild of Charlotte Artists. How’s that for resilience?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mikelfrank.com
• Instagram: @mikelfranksart
• Facebook: Mikesbrain
• Linkedin: Mikel Frank

Image Credits

Kevin Bird
Joanne Rogers
Carl Heyward
Mikel Frank