Bio
Born in Santa Barbara in 1973, Michael Long has been interested in creating art from found objects for the past 30 years. His reuse of discarded, recycled and unwanted things has been a focal point of his overall work. Collage and assemblage have been mediums that allow him a platform to re-create images and objects from his dreams and imagination.
In Michael’s latest series, working with vintage paper and hand-built wooden boxes, he re-examines reoccurring dreams and nightmares by re-creating these scenes that have been with him since childhood. These “dream boxes” represent a time and place that only exists in the mind; they are psychological movie sets drawn from a beautiful and sometimes dark place.
Michael’s background is in education and liberal arts. He has taught art at Peabody Charter School and the Westside Boys and Girls Club in Santa Barbara, and was an elementary school teacher. Michael serves as a member of the Art Advisory Committee for the City of Santa Barbara, and he has an art studio in the downtown area of Santa Barbara, California.
PRESS
“Celebrating Our Origins with Art”
Meaghan Clark Tiernan, Santa Barbara Independent, November 14, 2025
“‘Symbiosis or Schism? The AI-Human Odyssey’ Opens at Community Arts Workshop”
Meaghan Clark Tiernan, Santa Barbara Independent, September 19, 2023
“Society Invites. Casa del Herrero Centennial Gala Tickets on Sale Now”
Joanne A Calitri, Montecito Journal, August 19, 2025
“Hanging Out at SBCAW’s “Ready to Hang”
Leslie Dinaberg, Santa Barbara Independent, November 19, 2023
“Dos Pueblos High School Wins Sister City Art Prize”
Bonnie Carroll, Edhat, May 9, 2023
“The Rondo: A Community Of Oddballs”
Camille Lubach, Lum Art Magazine, Oct 6, 2022
“Vuja De: A journey into the dreams of Santa Barbara artist Michael E. Long and to his historic Santa Barbara art studio, The Rondo.”
Casey McGarry, Short Film, April 1, 2021
“This Year’s Santa Barbara Film Makers”
Matt Kettmann, Santa Barbara Independent, March 31, 2021
“Santa Barbara’s Grimiest Dive Bars Are the Inspiration for This Artist’s Work”
Katie Brown, VinePair, January 31, 2021
“Haunting Insides: Michael E. Long at Vita Art Center”
Debra Harrick, LUM Art Magazine, August 15, 2020
“What’s Hanging? with Ted Mills: A Dream Within A Dream”
Ted Mills, Santa Barbara Sentinel, August 1, 2020
“Capturing the Soul of Local Dive Bars in Miniature”
60 Second Docs, March 2, 2020
“Can You Figure Out What’s Real and What’s a Replica?”
ABC Localish, February 4, 2020
“This Artist Builds Tiny, Lifelike Replicas of Beloved Dive Bars”
John Paul Titlow, Atlas Obscura, October 18, 2019
”Ann Foxworthy Gallery hosts artist Michael E. Long's haunting handmade boxes”
Rebecca Rose, Santa Maria Sun, April 2nd, 2019
“Episode #80: Michael Long”
Ted Mills, The Funk Zone Podcast, June 21, 2016
Collections
“Percy”, Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture, Santa Barbara, California. Acquired 2018.
CURATION
2025
CAW, “Symbiosis or Schism? The AI-Human Odyssey”, Santa Barbara, California
2019-CURRENT
CAW, “Ready to Hang Pop Up Art Show”, Santa Barbara, California
Solo Exhibitions
2022
Stickn’stuck Gallery, Santa Barbara, California
“Room to Dream” Santa Barbara, California
2020
Vita Art Center, “Insides”, Ventura, California
Bella Rosa Gallery, “Rooms of Wonder”, Santa Barbara, California
2019
Ann Foxworthy Gallery, “Some Assembly Required”, Santa Maria, California
Santa Barbara Architectural Foundation, “Hole in the Wall”, Santa Barbara, California
2018
Studio 111 Gallery, “You Are Here”, Santa Barbara, California
Sol Hill Studio Gallery, "View With a Room", Santa Barbara, California
GROUP Exhibitions
2025
CAW, “Little Shop of Hoarders”, Art Show & Art Supply + Found Objects Swap Meet, Santa Barbara, California
Sullivan Goss Gallery, “100 Grand (2025)”, Santa Barbara, California
2023
CAW, “The Future That Never Came”, Santa Barbara, California
Atkinson Gallery, “Small Images”, Santa Barbara, California
Elverhøj Museum, “Ephemera Inform”, Solvang, California
2022
Sullivan Goss Gallery, “100 Grand (2022)”, Santa Barbara, California
CAW, “Rondo Retrospective”, Santa Barbara, California
2021
Sullivan Goss Gallery, “100 Grand (2021)”, Santa Barbara, California
CAW, “Remedy”, Santa Barbara, California
2020
Sullivan Goss Gallery, “100 Grand (2020)”, Santa Barbara, California
2019
Sullivan Goss Gallery, "Extra Curricular", Santa Barbara, California
Sullivan Goss Gallery, “100 Grand (2019)”, Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop, “Ready to Hang”, Santa Barbara, California
2018
Sullivan Goss Gallery, "Extra Curricular", Santa Barbara, California
SBTC Gallery, "Paper", Santa Barbara, California – Honorable Mention
Breakfast Social Club, August Group Show, Santa Barbara, California
Sullivan Goss Gallery, “The Red-Headed Stepchild”, Santa Barbara, California
Gone Gallery, November Group Show, Santa Barbara, California
Sullivan Goss Gallery, "100 Grand (2018)", Santa Barbara, California
2017
Studio 121, "Selected Assemblage and Collage", Santa Barbara, California
2016
SBTC Gallery, "Shoe/Stiletto", Santa Barbara, California – Best in Show
Studio 121, “Assemblage”, Santa Barbara, California
2015
Ganna Walska Lotusland, "FLOCK: Birds on the Brink", Montecito, California
2013
The Arts Fund Gallery, "Specimen", Santa Barbara, California
Art From Scrap, "One Night Stand", Santa Barbara, California
JUroured
2023
Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara, California
“The Santa Barbara Sister Cities Board Young Artists & Authors Showcase”, Santa Barbara, California
2022
Tennis Club, Santa Barbara, California
“Aquatic”, Santa Barbara, California