BIO
Growing up outside of Chicago, the internationally acclaimed visual artist Michael Alan Coakes began studying art at a young age. Through frequent visits to the Art Institute of Chicago, he fostered an appreciation for a diverse range of artists, from Picasso and Dali to Mucha.
Mostly self-taught, he has honed his unique style across a range of media, including drawing, painting, and photography, over the years, through mentorships and various institutions, most notably the American Academy of Art in Chicago.
Over the past decade, he has participated in more than 70 solo and group exhibitions showcasing his work.
PROUD TO BE REPRESENTED BY
Virgil Catherine Gallery - Hinsdale, IL
Artemisia - Geneva, IL
CV
Mar-Apr 2024 Group Show "NO COLOR" Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL
Dec 2023-Jan 2024 Group Exhibit, “In View 2024” The Art Center of Highland Park, Highland Park, IL
Nov 2023-Jan 2024 Group Exhibit, “Environment” 116 Gallery, St. Charles, IL
Nov-Dec 2023 Group Exhibit, “East to (Mid)West” Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, IL
Oct 2023 Group Exhibit / Charity Auction, “Art For Life (DIFFA Chicago)” The Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
Sept-Oct 2023 Group Exhibit, “Elmhurst Artists’ Guild – Members’ Fall Exhibit 2023” Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Sept-Oct 2023 Group Exhibit, “Myth of Memory” Virgil Catherine Gallery, Hinsdale, IL
Sept-Oct 2023 Group Exhibit, “80th Annual Salon Show” South Shore Arts Center, Munster, IN
Aug-Sept 2023 Group Exhibit, “Economical” Artist Replete Gallery, Chicago, IL
Apr 2023 Solo Exhibit, “Cherchez la Femme” Stola Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Mar-Apr 2023 Group Exhibit, “46th Art Comp” Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL
Mar 2023 3 Artist Exhibit, “3 FOR LIFE” In association with DIFFA, Art for Life Chicago 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Feb 2023 Group Exhibit, “Angels & Demons” Stola Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Jan-Feb 2023 Group Exhibit, “In View 2023” The Art Center of Highland Park, Highland Park, IL
Dec 2022 Group Exhibit, “Visions of Hope” Stola Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Oct 2022 Group Exhibit / Charity Auction, “Art For Life (DIFFA Chicago)” The Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
Sept-Oct 2022 Group Exhibit, “13th Anniversary Show” Water Street Studios, Batavia, IL
Sept-Oct 2022 Group Exhibit, “79th Annual Salon Show” South Shore Arts Center, Munster, IN
Aug-Oct 2022 Group Exhibit, “Convergence” Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN
Aug 2022 Group Exhibit, “Democracy in Danger” Stola Contemporary Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
Mar 2022 Group Exhibit, “Art Comp 45” Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL
Jan 2022 Group Exhibit, “In View 2022” Art Center HP, Highland Park, IL
Dec 2021 Collaborative work in Solo Exhibit for Kelly Mathews, “Being Bipolar in a Polarized World” Art Center HP, Highland Park, IL
Dec 2021 Group Show “Thin Line” Art Center HP, Highland Park, IL
Oct 2021 Group Show “Dangerous Lullabies” Dole Mansion and Art Center., Crystal Lake, IL
Sept - Oct 2021 Group Show “2021 Later Impressions” Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL
Sept 2021 Group Show “Fantasy & Fiction” Old Courthouse Art Center, Woodstock, IL
Jan 2021 Group Exhibit, "Rest in Power! The Life, Legacy and Mission of RBG" Stola Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Oct 2020 Group Exhibit, "Give Peace a Chance" Stola Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
Jan - Feb 2020 Group Show "Cuffing" Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL
Oct - Nov 2018 Group Show “October National 2018” Madden Art Center, Decatur, IL **Award Winner
Sept - Nov 2018 Group Show “75th Annual Salon” South Shore Arts Center, Munster, IN **Award Winner
Sept - Nov 2018 Group Show “If You Only Knew” Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
Sept - Oct 2018 Group Show “2018 Later Impressions” Old Town Art Center, Chicago, IL
May- June 2018 Group Show “Bringing Sexy Back” Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL
Apr- May 2018 Group Show “Red” Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL
Mar-Apr 2018 Solo Show “Les Femmes” The New Studio Gallery, Evanston, IL
Nov 2017- Feb 2018 Group Show “14th Annual Juried Exhibition” Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, IL
October 2017 Group Show “Connections” State Street Gallery at Robt. Morris Univ., Chicago, IL
October 2017 Group Show “Dangerous Lullabies” Dole Mansion and Art Center., Crystal Lake, IL
Sept-Oct 2017 Group Show “SKETCHBOOK” 33 Contemporary Gallery, Chicago, IL
July-Aug 2017 Group Show “Figures and Faces” Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
July 2017 Group Show “6th Annual Creek Gallery Exhibition” Crystal Lake, IL
June 2017 Group Show “Summer Solstice” Yorkville, IL
Apr 2017 Solo exhibit “Tissage” South Suburban College, South Holland, IL
Feb 2017 Group Exhibit “Nude Nite” Orlando, FL
Jan-Mar 2017 Group Exhibit “Seduction” Jackson Junge Gallery, Chicago, IL
Jan-Feb 2017 Group Exhibit “Adam & Eve” Old Courthouse Art Center, Woodstock, IL
Oct-Dec 2016 Group Exhibit “Regional Finalists – Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series 2016” Gallery Guichard, Chicago, IL
October 2016 Group Show “Dangerous Lullabies” Crystal Lake, IL
September-October 2016 Group Show “South Shore Arts 73rd Annual Salon Show” Munster, IN
August-September 2016 Group Show “5th Annual Creek Gallery Exhibition” Crystal Lake, IL
June-July 2016 Group Exhibit “Lexicon” 2nd Floor Gallery, the ZhouB Art Center, Chicago, IL
June 2016 Group Show “Summer Solstice” Yorkville, IL
October 2015 Group Show “Dangerous Lullabies” Crystal Lake, IL
June 2015 Group Show “Summer Solstice” Yorkville, IL
Mar-Apr 2015 Solo exhibit “The Illusions of Psyche” South Suburban College, South Holland, IL
March 2015 Group exhibit, “Nude Nite” Tampa, FL
February 2015 Group exhibit “Nude Attitude” Peoria Art Guild Peoria, IL
February 2015 Group exhibit, “Nude Nite” Orlando, FL
Sept-Oct 2014 Group exhibit 3rd Friday Event “Salon de Paris” 4Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
August 2014 Group exhibit 3rd Friday Event 4Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
July 2014 Group exhibit, “Art of the Dance” Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
April-May 2014 Group exhibit “Body Language” OCCCA, Santa Ana, CA
March 2014 Group exhibit 3rd Friday Event “Oh, Mardi Gras” 4Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
March 2014 Group exhibit, “Nude Night” Tampa, FL
February 2014 Group exhibit 3rd Friday Event 4Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
February 2014 Group exhibit, “Nude Night” The Art Space Orlando, FL
January 2014 Group exhibit 3rd Friday Event 4Art Gallery, Chicago, IL
October 2013 Group Exhibit “Regional Finalists — Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series 2013” Gallery Guichard, Chicago, IL
August 2013 Group exhibit, “All Things Considered” Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
February 2013 Group exhibit, “Emerging Artists Group Show” Morpho Gallery, Chicago, IL
February 2013 Group exhibit, “Nude Night” The Art Space Orlando, FL
October 2012 Group Exhibit “Regional Finalists – Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series 2012” Gallery Guichard, Chicago, IL
December 2011 Group Exhibit “Scope Art Fair” Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series booth during Art Basel Miami
Previous exhibit history available upon request.
PUBLICATIONS
2023 “Cherchez la Femme – The Art of Michael Alan Coakes” A collection of work from the artist (Hardcover and softcover. editions).
2022 “Democracy in Danger” Group Exhibition Catalog
2020 “Rest in Power! The Life, Legacy & Mission of Ruth Bader Ginsberg” Group Exhibition Catalog
2016 Art & Beyond — Special Issue: Nude and Figurative Art (Magazine)
2015 “Signed & Numbered” (Hard cover book)
2015 Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA — “Fusion” Exhibition Catalog
2014 Art & Beyond — Special Issue: Digital Art (Magazine)
2014 Orange County Center for Contemporary Art — “Body Language” Exhibition Catalog
2012 “Art Takes Miami” Exhibition Catalog