Michael Branca Fine Art

Michael Branca - Fine Art
Publicity

"His paintings are so warm and full that you can't help but feel at ease in their presence and want to smile back."

Bare Feat: Catching the Artist Michael Branca in his Working Environment

by Maggie Knowles, Portland Phoenix, July 30, 2004
Review of "Caution: Wet Paint," Mike's wide-open studio / evolving exhibition at Three Fish Gallery

"He saw balance. He saw simplicity. He saw sustainability. And he put it all on canvas."

Artist on the Job: Please Disturb
Michael Branca works in a Fishbowl at Three Fish Gallery

by Chris Busby, Portland Forecaster, July 21, 2004, page 5
Review of "Caution: Wet Paint," Mike's wide-open studio / evolving exhibition at Three Fish Gallery

"visit one of Portland's most accomplished young artists in action."

Big, Yet Tiny

by Ray Routhier, Maine Sunday Telegram, December 9, 2007
Review of "Tiny" at Whitney Art Works

"In our fast-food culture, people go by so fast they don't take time to look at things. When something is a quarter- inch tall, you can't do that," said Branca

Not a Who's Who, But a Very Good Start

by Philip Isaacson, Maine Sunday Telegram, Sept. 1, 2002, page 3E
Review of Past, Present, Future at the Center for Maine Center for Contemporary Art.

"natural and uninhibited embrace of artistic license, exuberantly applied to anatomy and nature, convention and propriety, fashion and art trends."

Naked & Smiling

by Christopher Thompson, Portland Phoenix, April 12, 2001, page 6
Review of Mike's solo show, "Naked & Smiling" at Filament Gallery.

"Branca's work poses a series of musing explorations of humans' ambivalent relationships to nature and its inhabitants: vegetable, animal, and human. He also feels compelled to make artwork that you don't need to earn six figures to afford."

Caution Wet Paint

July - August, 2004
Press Release for Mike's month-long, wide-open studio/evolving exhibition at Three Fish Gallery

"By asking anyone interested to observe and participate in my process, I hope to break down some of the mystique surrounding what it is to "be an artist."

Fine fiber art on the cutting edge as well as either side

by Philip Isaacson, Maine Sunday Telegram, April 18, 2004
Review of several exhibitions including the "Winter Show" at Elan Fine Arts

"I urge the work of Mike Branca. His "Last Supper" set into the opening in a common electric switchplate and "Creation of Adam" in a similar frame are wondrous. These are universes less than an inch long."

Coming to Terms with the Term

by Aimee Curl, Maine Times, October 26, 2000
Review of "The Unknown Generation: X? Who Are We?" at Maine Artists Space.

"Typical of this generation of artists, Michael Branca's work spans the spectrum, from bugs and religion to classic oils and nature."

The X Styles

by Elisabeth Gold, Casco Bay Weekly, October 12, 2000, page 14
Review of "The Unknown Generation: X? Who Are We?" at Maine Artists Space.

"...anytime someone tries to put a label on you, you better get as far away from that label as you can."

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

by Andy Steiner, Utne Reader, December 1999, page 128
Spotlight on Mike's Real Dead Bugs.

"Animal rights activists take note: Branca never kills the insects he uses in his art."

Buggin' Out: Artist Takes Break to Work Out the Bugs

by Dale McGarrigle, Bangor Daily News, August 14-15, 1999, pp H1 & H3
Feature story on Mike's Real Dead Bugs, including a visit to Mike's cow pasture-studio at Skowhegan.

"I started it as a kind of social experiment."

A Bug's Afterlife: A Portland artist finds inspiration in croaked critters

by Allen Dammann, Casco Bay Weekly, July 29, 1999, pp 16-17
Feature article, the first to present Mike's Real Dead Bugs to the public.

"They're scattered along your windowsill. They're mingled with the dust bunnies behind your radiator. They're sprinkled inside your light fixtures. And if you're really unfortunate, they're lying in the shadowy recesses of your cupboard, only inches from your favorite coffee mug. They're dead bugs - and artist Michael Branca wants them."

Senior Artists Show their Stuff

by Kevin Cool, Colby Magazine, May 1996, pp 30-31
Cover article about graduating senior artists and the Senior Show in the Colby Museum of Art.

"'Some people think these are kind of gross,' Branca said in a way that suggested nothing could please him more."