Mike Cloud,
Associate Professor,

Mike Cloud (b. Chicago, Illinois) is a painter and writer. His work and research in the field of painting is anchored in the contemporary life of reproduction, symbolism and description. Cloud’s paintings “aestheticize their subjects and function on social and political terms that go beyond the stakes of authentic expression.”

Cloud earned his M.F.A. from Yale University School of Art and his B.F.A. from the University of Illinois-Chicago with a concentration in art education. Cloud has lectured extensively on his work and contemporary theoretical art issues at the Jewish Museum, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Yale University, the Cooper Union, Bard College, New York Studio School, Kansas City Art Institute and the University of New Orleans.

Solo exhibitions include: ‘Tears in Abstraction’ (2019), ‘Bad Faith and Universal Technique’ (2014), Thomas Erben Gallery, NYC, NY; ‘The Myth of Education’ (2018), The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL; ‘Agreement and Subjectivity’ (2008), Max Protetch Gallery, NYC, NY and ‘Special Projects: Mike Cloud’ (2005), MoMA PS1, NYC, NY. His work has been included in group exhibitions such as the American Academy of Arts in Letters, NYC, NY; the Studio Museum in Harlem, NY; Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum, Slovak Republic; White Columns, NYC, NY; Honor Fraser Gallery, CA; Ceysson & Bénétière, NYC, NY; Green Gallery, Milwaukee, WI; Good Children Gallery, LA; Marianne Boesky Gallery, NY; White Columns, NY; Max Protetch, NY; Apexart, NYC.

Cloud has been reviewed and profiled in publications such as the New York Times, Art in America, Art Review and featured in the survey Painting Abstraction by Bob Nickas, published by Phaidon Press. His awards include the inaugural Chiaro Award from the Headlands Center for the Arts, an artist Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Barry Schactman Prize in Painting from the Yale University School of Art as well as the Grace Holt Memorial Award in African American Issues from the University of Illinois, Chicago. His work is held in private and public collections including The Bronx Museum, NYC, NY; Lincoln Center, NYC, NY and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, NY.

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