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 and now has a studio called the Rondozvous in the Funk Zone, a gallery and artist workspace in Santa Barbara, California.
PRESS
“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
“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
“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.
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
2023
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
2022
Tennis Club, Santa Barbara, California
“Aquatic”, Santa Barbara, California