When Michael Kalish reimagines an abused license plate or a vintage fender of a sun-faded farm truck, he transforms these discarded materials into striking art. His works are masterful while endearingly mindful, with a wink to Pop art masters such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. He raises repurposing to a culturally and socially conscious new level.
Kalish was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1973. He later attended the University of Rhode Island and Kennesaw State University in Georgia, majoring in psychology and minoring in art. After finishing school, he realized that if he wanted a career in art, he would have to do something to stand out. He decided to select a unique medium that would grab the attention of curators and the public.
He stumbled upon an old license plate in a junkyard, which sparked his interest. The color, texture and reflective shine drew him in, and he began to search for more. The first piece he created with the license plates was an American flag, which was exhibited by a small gallery. In 1996, he made a series of license plate portraits of several U.S. presidents, which were displayed in the windows of the Barney’s department store in New York City.
Kalish relocated to Los Angeles, where he continues to work with salvaged metal objects, fashioning them into beautiful roses, bowls of fruit, pop icon portraits and abstract pieces. His Raise the Caliber monumental public work — made of reclaimed guns — garnered high praise for its statement against violence. In 2017, his Art of Finding Love series of interactive abstract sculptures toured various outdoor locations in California.
On 1stDibs, find Michael Kalish’s sculptures, paintings, mixed media and more.
Crush - Rose on Red
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed mixed-media artist based in Los Angeles. His passion for metal started with vintage car parts and license plates and evolved to more re...
Enamel, Metal
Rose - Red on Multicolor
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
"Rose - Red on Multicolor" — layered laser cut aluminum and enamel on aluminum panel — 32 x 32 x 8 inches. Edition of 35. An incredibly dimensional wall sculpture made with multipl...
Enamel, Metal
The Art of Finding Love - Brushed Gold
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stunning sculpture standing at just over seven feet tall is on a swivel base. It is quite an engineering feat to create each sculpture. This sculpture can go indoors or outdoors as well. The title "The Art of Finding Love...
Metal
Acrylic "Glass" Rose - Red on Multicolor
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An incredibly dimensional wall sculpture made with multiple layers of laser cut colored acrylic to create the "Rose", then mounted on an aluminum panel. Edition of 35. #1 is immediately available, other editions have a 2-3 week lead time. Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed mixed-media artist based in Los Angeles. His passion for metal started with vintage car parts...
Metal
Crush - Rose on Coral
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed mixed-media artist based in Los Angeles. His passion for metal started with vintage car parts and license plates and evolved to more re...
Enamel, Metal
Acrylic "Glass" Rose - Red on Pink
By Michael Kalish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An incredibly dimensional wall sculpture made with multiple layers of laser cut colored acrylic to create the "Rose", then mounted on an aluminum panel. Signed and numbered limited edition of 35. #1 is immediately available, other editions have a 2-3 week lead time. Michael Kalish is an internationally acclaimed mixed-media artist based in Los Angeles. His passion for metal started with vintage car parts...
Metal
Red Love
By Vladimir Prodanovich
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mixed Media on Paper
Mixed Media, Paper
Toreador - Contemporary Expressive Red Geometric Abstract Metal Sculpture
By Granville Beals
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by dance and weightlessness, Granville Beals' industrial metal sculptures are primarily about relationships. Concerned with form and abstraction, he does not merely manipula...
Metal, Steel
Bringing Love Home Version 2, original sculpture, abstract, contemporary
Located in Deddington, GB
When you all around this work the image changes and the works appear saying Love and then as you move to the right of the work it says home. Bringing Love Home by Sena Shah is a new ...
Mixed Media, Felt
Improvisation in Red and Blue
By Steve Zaluski 1
Located in New York, NY
Painted, Welded -Aluminum Kinetic Sculpture. Blue and red colors. About the Artist: Studied engineering and sculpture at Stony Brook University. Steve has created sculptures of welded bronze or aluminum and have installed them around the world, including Hong Kong, Tokyo, England, France, Germany, Israel, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Grand Cayman...
Mixed Media
Diversity (Red)
By Oleg Lobykin
Located in Napa, CA
Oleg Lobykin (Russian, b. 1966) is a sculptor. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Lobykin now resides in Silicon Valley and also specializes in the restoration of landmark architecture ...
Fiberglass
Red Magic Abstract Sculpture in Stainless Steel, 23\" Tall
By Santiago Medina
Located in Naples, Florida
Colombian-American artist has a 35-year career in sculpture and painting. Trained in Italy, USA and Colombia with renowned artists Libe de Zulategui, Dora Ramirez, Nilda Comas, Abdon...
Steel
