A major exhibition of my paintings, the largest ever held, will open this November 16th at the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama and run through January 19, 2014. From Middle Earth to Outer Space and Beyond will be comprised of sixty-one works of art, ranging from my epic Gold Medal winning cover of Spectrum 13, Prometheus, to the emotional Hobbit: Explusion created for the graphic novel cover adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s story. Drawings, preparatory studies, and oil paintings will be shown and illuminate the creative process on projects from the US Postal Service Stamps to book covers for The Name of The Wind to personal projects like Search for Mother.
Construct of Time 1993 Oil on Panel
I cannot express how excited I am by this exhibition as it will showcase aspects of my career in a fulfilling and thorough manner, featuring major works from various stages of my development as an artist. The collection will be devoted to four themes: Middle-Earth, Mythological Realism, Science Fiction, and Space/Astronauts, with a room set aside for each. Many of the works on display have not left our family collection for exhibition in years while some have never left the studio! It will be thrilling to see a large body of work under a single roof, as the last such gathering occurred at the Palazzo Ducale in Lucca, Italy for the occasion of Lucca Comics and Games back in 2009, hosting 40 paintings. This show promises to be even more impressive with most of the art in a larger scale format from my recent oil paintings.
For those of you in the area, or who wish to make a trip, I will be on hand next weekend at the Museum for the opening reception held Sunday, November 17th from 2-4pm. Come out, take in some art, and say hello!
Psychohistorical Crisis 1999 Oil on Panel
Huntsville, Alabama has a long history with space science and is the home of the research and development of the Redstone Rocket, from which the United States’ space program was built upon. The area around Huntsville plays host to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, amongst other science research facilities. With so many scientists walking within the crowds, my work with science fiction illustration to recent images of astronauts should find a very warm welcome in this community.
My only regret is that we could not include many more works which reside in private collections around the world. Over the years I have shown my passionate visions to collectors and they have supported me generously with purchasing nearly all my major paintings. Someday I hope to bring those together, but that is another show! For now, I am happy to provide you with some sneak peeks with what will hang for a short but bright moment in Huntsville.
Lastly, to celebrate the occasion of this exhibit, I have created a work specifically for Huntsville, Awakening. Recalling my summers as a young child in Vermont, I will never forget laying about in grassy lawns, watching for satellites to pass over head and dreaming of what it would be like to voyage among the stars and walk on undiscovered worlds.
Kristine PooleonThe CallingHi Michael, Thanks so much for deciding to take a look and for sharing your thoughts! I also find it intriguing to get to wal…
Kristine PooleonThe CallingI am so pleased to read your words. When we "release" work into the world, we never know who might find it intriguing, engagi…
Kristine PooleonThe CallingThank you for sharing your thoughts. One of the things I love most about art is how it can communicate across time, cultures…
Sarah FinniganonInterior Illustrations – To Green Angel TowerI'd be curious to know how you tackled the signature pages, particularly the magic/edges of the magic meeting with the white…
HalloranonInterior Illustrations – To Green Angel TowerCan you talk more about the Pool of Three Depths? That image fascinates me and I haven't read the series (yet). What's the st…
This past month I have been posting on social media a collection of paintings, my Earth and Sea series. These works originally had been created for various projects from commercial book covers to gallery exhibitions to personal works which did not have initially any...
These past few years I have had the honor to interpret a classic fantasy trilogy from the 1990's, Tad William's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series for Grim Oak Press. This trilogy culminates in the final massive tome To Green Angel Tower, and is so large it has...
In celebration of a new body of illustrated work for Grim Oak Press and the revarnishing of the epic canvas Beacons of Gondor, we will once again be welcoming visitors to our annual Open Studio in Brooklyn, New York. DONATO ARTS OPEN STUDIO 2025 Saturday September...
My head just exploded. It's only 5 hours from me, and a field trip for the kids with all the NASA stuff. I. Will. Be. There. (Not on the 17th, unfortunately)
This exhibit is about an hour away from me! I definitely will try to go. I've never seen a large-scale exhibition of your work, so I'm really excited to see it.
Congratulations! I wish I could go.. maybe some day I'll be able to cross the big sea and watch your art in person 🙂
The only good reason to go down to Alabama.
FIELD TRIP!
My head just exploded. It's only 5 hours from me, and a field trip for the kids with all the NASA stuff. I. Will. Be. There. (Not on the 17th, unfortunately)
This exhibit is about an hour away from me! I definitely will try to go. I've never seen a large-scale exhibition of your work, so I'm really excited to see it.
Hey Donato, come to Europe and make an amazingly big exhibition and i will be there 😉 Maybe in London that would be dreams come true!
Congratulations! This is a great retrospect..
HI Will,
Considering this is my first major exhibit in 6 years here in the States, you are excused for not having seen one! Enjoy it when you make the trip…
Kudos..