Miami’s Stillion opens exhibition at Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center
‘And then it was flowers’ will run until Aug. 30
•
Published
Michael Stillion, associate teaching professor of Studio Art, has a new exhibition, 'and then it was flowers,' featured at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center until Aug. 30.
Miami’s Stillion opens exhibition at Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center
‘And then it was flowers’ will run until Aug. 30
•
Published
Michael Stillion, associate teaching professor of Studio Art at Miami University, has a rare opportunity to have his art featured in an exhibition at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center.
The exhibition, titled “And then it was flowers,” features 50 different pieces ranging in different sizes, with the largest piece being 16 feet by 10 feet. The collection spans from paintings to ceramic pieces, digital animations, sculptures, and a large-scale installation piece.
“Before COVID, I was making really bright, saturated paintings … then I simplified the palette and moved toward the absence of color,” Stillion said.
The exhibition, titled “And then it was flowers,” features 50 different pieces ranging in different sizes, with the largest piece being 16 feet by 10 feet. The collection spans from paintings to ceramic pieces, digital animations, sculptures, and a large-scale installation piece.
“Before COVID, I was making really bright, saturated paintings … then I simplified the palette and moved toward the absence of color,” Stillion said.
Michael Stillion
Because of the unique architecture of the Contemporary Art Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, Stillion had to face the challenge of working for or against the building. The main space itself is fluid and immersive, as it lacks the traditional 90-degree angles one is typically used to. With concrete pillars dividing the space, Stillion ultimately decided to use the architecture to his advantage by utilizing the lighting and strategic placement of artwork. One wall of the exhibition features a graduation painted on the wall with a series of seven paintings shifting from day to night time.
While the physical layout of the exhibition impacts viewers' thoughts on the show, personal imagery adds another layer to the experience. Stillion describes his work as a balance between humor and seriousness. Throughout all of the pieces displayed at the exhibition, one will notice a pattern of poppy flowers. The poppy is a symbol of the opioid epidemic that is occurring in Stillion’s hometown and many rural communities throughout the United States..
“It’s an honor … and pretty humbling to be trusted with a space like this,” Stillion said.
After reflecting on the exhibition, Stillion said his inspiration comes from multiple sources but specifically his students. While being a professor of Art at Miami University, Stillion says practicing what he preaches and interacting with his students has helped him become a better artist.
Stillion's goal with the exhibition is for people to come into the show and be entertained. While he has his own understanding of his artwork, he wants people to have their own depictions and feelings when walking through the show. The exhibition is open until Aug. 30 at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center.
Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about the College of Creative Arts? Visit the website for more information.