Michael Craik is an Edinburgh-based artist whose practice explores the interplay of colour and repetition as a method of producing quiet, contemplative work concerned with colour, material quality and process. Craik studied Fine Art at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen before completing an MA in European Fine Art in Barcelona. Drawing influence from a history of Color Field painting and concrete art, Craik’s practice explores the interplay of color and repetition as a method of producing quiet, contemplative work concerned with color, form, material quality and process. Craik creates paintings by repeatedly applying paint and removing it again. This process of reduction is highlighted in his work, alluding to forces of erosion that form our landscape. The artist allows the elemental qualities of the paint to determine the appearance of each work, creating contemplative, minimal paintings. With his work, the focus lies on the edges, where sanding reveals strata of paint, exposing layers of alternating color that have been built up by brushing, pouring or spreading. In this sense, Craik’s work shares a relationship with geology, to the laying down and erosion of rock. Living in Scotland, one is constantly reminded of the forces that sculpt the land. His studio in Kinghorn, Fife stands, stands on a cliff overlooking the River Forth estuary. Surrounded by this expanse of water Craik observes the endless ebb and flow of the tide, and is aware that the need to represent the passage of time has permeated his practice through this connection.
EDUCATION
1999 - 2000
MA European Fine Art, Winchester School of Art, Barcelona/Winchester
1992 - 1996
BA (Hons) Fine Art, Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen
SOLO AND JOINT EXHIBITIONS
2022
Ebb & Flow - &Gallery, Edinburgh
Interlude - Janknegt Galley, Laren, The Netherlands
2021
Breathing Space - with Eric Cruikshank, Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo, Barcelona
2020
ECHO, &Gallery, Edinburgh
2018
Continuum, Two person exhibition with Gisela Hoffmann at Galerie Schmidt & Schütte, Cologne
Solo exhibition at Zembla Gallery, Hawick
Percezione, Two person exhibition with Sonia Costantini at THECA Gallery, Milan
Two person exhibition with Jeffrey Cortland Jones at &Gallery, Edinburgh
2017
The Relative Medium (with Eric Cruikshank), Galleri Konstepidemin, Gothenburg
2016
Intime, Galerie Weissraum, Kyoto
2015
Ways of Seeing (with Eric Cruikshank), Howden Park Centre, Livingston
2013
Build (with Merja Herzog-Hellsten), Galerie Salon 13, BOK, Offenbach
Malerei (with Eric Cruikshank), Galerie Albrecht, Berlin
2007
Razed To The Ground, Amber Roome Contemporary Art, Edinburgh
2006
Plate Tectonics, Galería Alonso Vidal, Barcelona
Solo Exhibition, An Tuireann Arts Centre, Portree, Isle of Skye
2005
Solo Exhibition, Amber Roome Contemporary Art, Edinburgh
2004
Solo Exhibition, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
30:30 - &Gallery, Edinburgh
2022
Here, Now - Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo, Barcelona
On Paper - &Gallery, Edinburgh
2021
Forma y Color - Lo Spazio, Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo, Barcelona
Winter Exhibition - &Gallery, Edinburgh
Orbit - Poimena Gallery, Launceston, Tasmania
Tiny Yet Mighty - &Gallery, Edinburgh
2020
Art Matters, online exhibition at Galerie Biesenbach, Cologne
2019
In The Stillness, group exhibition at Freudmonk Gallery, Online
2018
Unrestricted, group exhibition at &Gallery, Edinburgh
Three person exhibition with Thomas Jacobi & Charles Poulsen at The Hughson Gallery, Glasgow
On Narrow Paths, group exhibition with Max Cole & Abraham David Christian at Galerie Kirbach, Dusseldorf
2017
Charity Postcard Exhibition, Zembla Gallery, Hawick
Connection, group exhibition at &Gallery, Edinburgh
Hydrophil, group exhibition at Galerie Schmidt & Schütte, Cologne
Three person exhibition with Gisela Hoffmann and Jan Scharrelmann at Verein für aktuelle Kunst/Ruhrgebiet e.v. (VfaKR), Oberhausen
2016
The Lite Bothy, DOK Artist Space at Freemason Hall, Edinburgh
2015
The Memory of Time, Wootdali Cultural Village, Pyeongtaek, South Korea
Sommersalon 2015, Galerie Ulf Larsson, Cologne
Kunstkonzept SZA, Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz, Frankfurt
2014
The Society of Scottish Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2012
RSA Open 2012, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2011
Reflection: Contemporary Visual Arts & Crafts in Edinburgh, City Art Centre, Edinburgh
Materials, Galerie P13, Heidelberg
2010
Scottish Summer Exhibition, The Fleming Collection, London
2009
Paint Can, Travelling Gallery, Various locations in Scotland
Strata, Sarah Myerscough, London
The Drawing Room, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh
2008
WASPS Exhibition, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
2007
Open, Cube, Manchester
2006
ArtSway Open 06, ArtSway, Sway, Hampshire
2005
Works on Paper, Amber Roome Contemporary Art, Edinburgh
Art Futures, Contemporary Art Society, London
2003
Flix, Rubicon Gallery, Dublin
2002
Art Futures, Contemporary Art Society, London
Mostyn Open 12, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno
2001
Revolution, Bellevue Gallery, Edinburgh
2000
Big Small New, Houldsworth, London
ART FAIRS
2023
Volta Basel - Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo
2022
Luxembourg Art Week - Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo
Art Karlsruhe - Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo
2021
Volta Basel - Victor Lope Arte Contemporáneo
Kunst Rai Amsterdam - Janknegt Gallery
2019
Cologne Fine Art & Design - Galerie Kirbach Art London - &Gallery
2010
Art London - Sarah Myerscough
2007
Art London - Amber Roome Contemporary Art
2006
Glasgow Art Fair - Amber Roome Contemporary Art
2001
Art Chicago - Houldsworth Gallery
Art Brussels - Houldsworth Gallery
London Art Fair - Houldsworth Gallery
RESIDENCIES
2011 Cal Franciscano, Hostafrancs, Spain
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
City Art Centre, Edinburgh
Bank of Montreal
University of Strathclyde
The Fleming Collection
Mastercard
John Lewis Partnership
Grampian Hospital Art Trust
Grays School of Art