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Michael Mao grew up in Shanghai,
China. He began teaching himself drawing and painting at the
young age of seven. He also learned painting through many workshops
during the weekends when he was in middle school and high school.
After graduated from Tongji University, one of the most prestigious
architecture schools in China, Michael did many architectural
renderings while working as an instructor in School of Architecture
and Urban Design at Tongji University.
In 1992, Michael moved to the United States to advance his architecture
career by pursuing his Master of Architecture at University of
Texas at Arlington. While working as full-time architect, he
was fascinated by 3D computer graphics and animations. Michael
quit his architect job and went on to pursue his Master of Science
in Visualization at Texas A&M University in 1997. Because
of his traditional painting skill and computer graphics knowledge,
he was hired as a Matte Painting Technical Director for Oscar
winning film "Shrek" at PDI/DreamWorks.
Michael is currently working
as a Digital Artist at PDI/DreamWorks.
Michael's paintings display an
artistic mastery of color, lighting, perspective, technique,
and vision. His paintings cover subject matter ranging from landscape,
portraits, and figures. Michael's paintings have been exhibited
in many National and international Juried Exhibition, and won
many Awards.
Awards and Recognition
2007, "3rd Place", RayMar's Third Annual Art Competition
2007, "Award of Excellence", Oil Painters of America,
Western Regional Juried Exhibition
2007, Finalist of 24rd Annual Artist's Magazine competition,
"Figurative and Portrait" category
2007, Finalist in April, May, June, and July 2007 RayMar's 2nd
Annual Fine Art Competition
2007, Grand Prize Winner for Artist's Magazine Online Competition
2007, Honorable Mentions in "Landscape" Category for
Artist's Magazine Online Competition
2007, Winners for both Categories in "People And Life"
and "Land and Seascapes" for the first Masterpiece
Elite Salon Art Contest
2006, Finalist of 23rd Annual Artist's Magazine competition,
"Figurative and Portrait" category
2006, "Honorable Mention", Salon International 2006,
International Museum of Contemporary Masters, Greenhouse Gallery
2006, "Jury's Top 50", Salon International 2006, International
Museum of Contemporary Masters, Greenhouse Gallery
2006, "Award of Excellence", Oil Painters of America,
15th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2005, "Award of Excellence", Oil Painters of America,
Western Regional Exhibition
2005, "Second Prize of Oil Painting," Parkhurst Art
Galleries' nautical theme competition
2004, Award of Distinguished Technical Communication, STC, 2003-2004
Online Communication Competition
2001, Best Animated Feature Film for Oscar, "Shrek",
PDI/DreamWorks
1998, "The Hidden Truth", was selected for inclusion
in the SIGGRAPH 98 Computer Animation Festival program
1996, Faculty Citation of Merit awarded upon graduation in recognition
of a record of superior academic achievement
1995, Best of Show in Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition,
American Institute of Architecture, Dallas
Exhibitions
2008, Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition,
Devin Galleries, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
2008, Oil Painters of America 17th Annual National Juried Exhibition
of Traditional Oil Paintings, Dana Gallery, Missoula, Montana
2008, California Art Club 97th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition,
Pasadena Museum of California Art, Pasadena, California
2008, Salon International 2008, International Museum of Contemporary
Masters, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
2007, The Great American Figurative Artists Group Show, Waterhouse
Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2007, SmallWorks North America 2007 Juried Exhibition and Sale,
The Greenwich Workshop Gallery, Fairfield, Connecticut
2007, Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition,
Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2007, Small Art Work Group Show, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara,
California
2006, Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition,
Lee Youngman Gallery, Calistoga, California
2006, Salon International 2006, International Museum of Contemporary
Masters, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, Texas
2006, Oil Painters of America 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition
of Traditional Oil Paintings, Dana Gallery, Missoula, Montana
2006, Figures Group Show, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara,
California
2005, Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition,
Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
2005, Oil Painters of America 14th Annual National Juried Exhibition
of Traditional Oil Paintings, Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, Illinois
2005, 2nd Annual National Juried Figure Exhibition, Red Dot Fine
Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Professional Affiliation
Oil Painters of America
California Art Club
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