Artist Statement:
The assemblage art contains photography mounted on canvas as well as ‘sketches’ with various materials (crushed glass, satin, oil pastel) and written text in ink. I take my camera with me almost everywhere I go as my photography captures everyday sensory experiences. Much like a journal, the photographs identify and crop subject matter which I find has poetic and philosophical purpose in regard to contemporary identity. After the photography becomes mounted on the canvas, I write texts with ink on the canvas with poetic passages which ambiguously describe the subject. Upon the remaining surface, loose ‘sketches’ are made with various materials which helps deconstruct the physical aspects of the subject. The entire process, from capturing the subject, to deconstruction with a sketch, to philosophical scribing, entails a method steeped in a heightened sense of individualism in regard to image-making. My photography contains no Photoshop alteration and without any other digital enhancement in order to provide a documentary experience of a raw image.
Various materials contained within my assemblages have specific conceptual purposes. For example, I often take photographs of aquatic life from aquariums and the watery mists of botanical gardens. As a result, the crushed glass I use has a connotation with ocean and rain water because of the reflective shine which resembles the glistening glow of light penetrating water. In addition, glass comes from sand and sand comes from the beach, another direct conceptual reference. Satin becomes used to reflect a theatrical display. The fabric is often applied to the surface of my work in a manner similar to the drapers of a theatre stage. Also, satin is generally regarded as a luxurious and fine material which reflects the value I have towards my subject matter, as elements which are sacred.
During the process of capturing selective imagery from my daily life, experiences, and travel with photography, I build upon the image by fusing the photographs with integrative ‘material drawings’ which establish new angles, perspectives, texture, and surfaces in which to engage the subject matter. The combinative and organic work becomes defined by process as even the written texts become open to individual interpretation by the viewer. As a writer and publisher, the written word has important symbolic significance to my identity. The writing first becomes dictated through improvisation and scribbled onto the canvas, smeared with gesso, and then rewritten on top with an edited version. By fusing written text with image-making, I create a conscious interpretation of my artistic methods in real-time. Besides the literal attributions, the works are also metaphorical assemblages because they integrate three artforms containing photography, drawing, and creative writing into one cohesive work of art. Combining the intense power of realism with photography, the interpretative energy of the written word and expressive drawing, the assemblage constructs a bridge through the deconstruction of observable subject matter into forms of new visual and improvised consumption.
Biography:
Michael Athanasius Hanna (born 1983) is an assemblage artist, writer, photographer, filmmaker, and publisher originally from Jersey City, New Jersey who has been creating art since the age of eight. He has exhibited in the United States and Europe as well as been featured at large exhibition spaces such as The Colonnade: Performing Arts Theatre in Ringgold, Georgia, the Victoria Gallery in Paterson, New Jersey, and the Atrium Gallery in Morristown, New Jersey. Notable shows in New York include a solo exhibit in Chelsea at the Wix Gallery and a one year exhibit at Hogarth Worldwide on Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan. Other noteworthy exhibitions include Space - Millepiani in Rome with a published catalogue and the Artists’ Guild in St. Louis. Additionally, he has regular solo exhibitions at The Colonnade: Performing Arts Theatre twice a year in the winter and summer. Michael has been published by The London Group, ArtonWorld Magazine, Saatchi Art, the New York Times, Hartford Courant, Daily Record, and the Jersey Journal. He works out of his art studio located in North Georgia and has been serving as the Editor & Curator of Titan Contemporary Publishing since 2014.
As a writer and publisher, Michael has been consistently complimented on his detailed yet direct approach to art writing, largely devoid of plastic language. Such a style of critical analysis has been covered in two publications under Titan Contemporary Publishing: The Artist Feature Catalogue and Titan Contemporary Journal. The catalogue features curatorial essays on established artists from around the world while the journal focuses on contemporary art discourse and philosophy. Michael’s purpose as a publisher remains to provide critical commentary and content on the newest contemporary art available by publishing on multiple formats including on the TCP website, Substack, and in linen wrap hardcover book editions.
Editor in Chief of ArtonWorld: International Magazine of Art & Finance, Carmelita Brunetti writes: "The visual and conceptual work of artist Michael Hanna stands out for its rare ability to transform observation into poetry—and poetry into image. His creations...are visionary translations where matter, light, and words interact in a lyrical and conceptual unity. Each photograph is accompanied by verses that do not merely illustrate but evoke. Hanna doesn’t describe what he sees—he deciphers and reinvents it...Hanna doesn’t stop at documentary or formal exploration. His approach is deeply conceptual—almost synesthetic. His images don’t stand alone; they are infused with texts, literary references, and intuitions that take shape in artistic form. Hanna’s sea is one of the mind and spirit, more than the lens. This is where the true power of his work lies: in showing how art can still move us, surprise us, and—most of all—inspire thought".
Curriculum Vitae
Publications:
Critical Review of Michael Hanna: Between Imagination and Visual Depth. Written by Carmelita Brunetti, Editor in Chief of ArtonWorld: International Magazine of Art & Finance. 6/24/2025.
The London Group. Newsletter. An article posting my critical essay about Chris Horner. 5/7/2025.
LoosenArt. A Scientific Approach. Published in print catalogue and online. 6/25/2025.
Canvas Rebel. Meet Michael Hanna. 7/14/2025.
Saatchi Art. New This Week. 7/29/2024.
Saatchi Art. New This Week. 2/19/2024.
Ypilson Art. Interview with Polish nonprofit arts organization. 2023.
New York Times - Atrium solo exhibit listed. 12/27/2014.
Hartford Courant - Artsmart blog. 2/2015.
Daily Record - Atrium solo exhibit news article. 9/19/2014.
Jersey Journal / NJ.com - Curatorial. 3/3/2015.
Jersey Journal / NJ.com - Curatorial. 8/13/2014.
ArtPrideNJ.com - Artist of the month. April 2014.
Solo Exhibitions:
Greenpoint Gallery. Enchanted Tide. New York, NY. 2025
The Colonnade: Performing Arts Theatre. The Abyss Stares Back. Ringgold, Georgia. 2025.
The Colonnade: Performing Arts Theatre. New Life. Ringgold, Georgia. 2025.
The Colonnade: Performing Arts Theatre. Interior Paintings. Ringgold, Georgia. 2024.
Wix Lounge Gallery : Enchanted Physics. Chelsea, Manhattan. New York, NY. 2016.
Victoria Gallery at Art Factory. Art Walk. Paterson, New Jersey 2015.
The Barrow Mansion. Power of Paper: Digital & Drawings. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2015.
Town Hall of Hanover. Linear Metamorphosis. Whippany, New Jersey. 2015.
Trolley Car. Sobering Linearity. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2015.
Atrium Gallery. Arts Council of Morristown, New Jersey. 2014 - 2015.
Noah Webster Gallery. Industrial Planes. West Hartford, Connecticut. 2014-2015.
Silk Gallery at the Art Factory. Building Bridges. Paterson, New Jersey. 2014.
Exhibitions:
Space - Millepiani (curated by LoosenArt). A Scientific Approach. Rome, Italy. 2025.
St. Louis Artists’ Guild. Between the Lines. St. Louis, Missouri. 2025.
Alpharetta Arts Center. Order and Chaos. Alpharetta, Georgia. 2025.
Corgi Clay Art Center. Go Figure! Stafford, Virginia. 2024.
South Cobb Arts Alliance. 2024 Member Exhibit.. Kennesaw, Georgia. 2024.
Medford Arts Center. Just Faces. Medford, New Jersey 2024.
Greenpoint Gallery. Open Call Salon Show. New York, NY. 2024.
Rhode Island Watercolor Society. Small Works. Pawtucket, Rhode Island. 2023.
Alfa Art Gallery. Close to Home NBAS Oil, Sculpture & Mixed Media. New Brunswick, New Jersey. 2023.
Alfa Art Gallery. L'Appel Du Vide : Oil Color & Mixed Media Salon. New Brunswick, New Jersey. 2016.
Hogarth Biannual. Meaningful. Meaningless. Park Ave, Manhattan, New York, NY. 1 year exhibit. 2014-2015.
Monmouth Museum. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Oh My! Lincroft, New Jersey. 2015.
City Hall of Jersey City. Eternal Glory, New Jersey. 2015.
58 Gallery. Cyberpunk. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2015.
Lincoln Inn. Artist House (June). Jersey City, New Jersey. 2015.
Lincoln Inn. Artist CoffeeHouse. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2015.
The Tides Art Gallery. Hotel Tides. Jersey Artist Registry: Exhibition #1. Asbury Park, New Jersey. 2015.
LITM Gallery. Little Wonders. Jersey City, New Jersey.2015.
Maxwells. My View. Hoboken, New Jersey. 2015.
Maxwells. Winter Blues. Hoboken, New Jersey. 2015.
Chashama Gallery. The Seed. Manhattan, New York City. 2014.
The Park Foundry, JCAI: Transcendental Downtown. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2014.
LITM Gallery. The Sight of Music. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2014.
City Hall of Jersey City. Two-Person Exhibition. New Jersey. 2014.
Raven Art Gallery & Boutique. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2014.
LITM Gallery. Chimeras. Jersey City, New Jersey. 2014.
Greenpoint Gallery. Fall Grand Salon Show. New York, NY. 2014.
Greenpoint Gallery. People's Choice Salon Show. New York, NY. 2014.
Greenpoint Gallery. Spring Juried Salon Show. New York, NY. 2014.
Greenpoint Gallery. Spring Grand Salon Show. New York, NY. 2014.
Nelvis Studios. The Collaboration. Elizabeth, New Jersey.2014.
Titan Contemporary Publishing
Editor & Curator, 2014 - present
