Michael Villarreal

Region: West

Website: http://michaelvillarrealart.com/

City / State: San Marcos, TX

My work is realized through the objects that occupy my dreams and memories. The secondhand object was an important part of my upbringing. Household items and anything else that was a necessity to live comfortably was brought home by my father, who used to rummage in the storage units that were abandoned at the U-Haul where he works. I take materials that are common in the construction of houses, such as pink insulation foam, joint compound, and paint, and configure these materials on a wooden structure to give the work material integrity. The surface of the work mimics an industrial finish; saturated hues or smooth surfaces create a visceral response to objects such as a bunk bed or window blind. Quirky, bulbous shapes and an animated sensibility transform the narrative of an object, but visually keep its familiarity.