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.
Rose, Lowell Nesbitt
By Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Lowell Nesbitt (1933-1993) Title: Rose Year: 1980 Edition: 160/250, plus proofs. Medium: Silkscreen on Arches paper Size: 24.75 x 21.75 inches Condition: Good Inscription: Si...
Screen
Rose
By Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Hollywood, FL
Artist: Lowell Nesbitt Title: Rose Medium: Screenprint Signed: Hand Signed Edition: From the edition of 175 Year: 1978 Measurements: 24" x 31" Note: This piece is sold UNFRAMED...
Screen
Rose, Lowell Nesbitt
By Lowell Nesbitt
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Lowell Nesbitt (1933-1993) Title: Rose Year: 1980 Edition: 92/175, plus proofs. Medium: Silkscreen on Arches paper Size: 29 x 29 inches Condition: Good Inscription: Signed an...
Screen
A Rose is a Rose
By Doug Groupp
Located in New York, NY
Doug Groupp A Rose is a Rose 2022 Inkjet, Acrylic Paint, Spray Paint on Canvas 52 x 40 inches Doug Group aka Clown Soldier was born in Queens, NY, and graduated with a BFA from SUNY...
Mixed Media
$720Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.75 in W 5.875 in D 0.5 in
"What is it About Old Men and Flowers?" (quoted from artist Richard Turner)
By Michael Davis
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Quote from RT on style subject matter. From the model image the actual artwork evolves in the studio. What was once a model is now a reference. The act of making, testing material compatibility, critical evaluation, chance, gesture and the Illuminating accident often shift the final concept. Ine artwork has a lite of its own. The Rare Earth artworks grew out of my investigative research in 2009 while working on a Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship (SARF) application. That resulted in a body of work titled “Imagos”– photo/journalism images that capture a moment in history and immediately place the viewer at that moment in time. While navigating Landsat records of Earth's land surfaces from space I discovered large areas of disturbed landscapes. These were immense open pit mines at numerous locations world wide, many of which were Rare Earth mines or REEs. The mining and processing to separate the rare earth elements is an environmental conundrum. On one hand these elements are in extremely high demand and necessary for electric vehicles...
Metal
La Rose
By Jean Tannous
Located in Atlanta, GA
Born in Byblos lebanon, in 1946, is a contemporary plastician artist franco-canadian. Artistic journey Early days (1970-1975) Paris (1976-2001) Quebec...
Mixed Media
$5,336
H 40.01 in W 20.01 in
Rose - 21st Century, Contemporary Painting, Graffiti, Flower, Mixed Media
By Danny O'Connor
Located in Barcelona, Catalonia
"The paintings are built up in layer upon layer of paint which give the pieces great depth of field. They are created with an arsenal of tools that doesn't settle with convention. As...
Canvas, Paint, Mixed Media
$5,707
H 39.38 in W 39.38 in
Allan Forsyth, Rose N°2, Contemporary Art, Floral Art, Affordable Art
By Allan Forsyth
Located in Deddington, GB
Allan Forsyth Rose N°2 Limited Edition Archival Chromagenic Photographic Print Edition 25 Sheet Size: H 100cm x W 100cm x D 2cm Diasec Framed Ready to Hang Diasec® mounting is a tim...
Archival Pigment
Neo Flora II
By Bryan Ricci
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This 48 inch by 42 inch textural and vibrant mixed media painting on linen is ready to hang. It is hand signed by the artist on the back of the artwork. This piece is brought to life...
Canvas, Linen, Mixed Media, Pigment
$1,500
H 18 in W 24 in D 0.75 in
A Rose is a Rose - Abstract Expressionist Assemblage in Acrylic on Canvas
By Charles David Francis
Located in Soquel, CA
A Rose is a Rose - Abstract Expressionist Assemblage in Acrylic on Canvas Bold sculptural composition by California artist Charles "Dave" Francis (American, 1951-2018). This piece i...
Canvas, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars, Other Medium
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
Crush- Rose on Gold
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
Crush - Rose on Pink
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
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
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
Crush- Rose on Blue
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
