Michael Liss

Michael Liss is an artist who is native to Atlanta, Georgia.  He began his studies in art at the young age of just 3 years old.  At the age of 8, Michael began taking courses at the Atlanta College of Art.  With a curious and always inquisitive approach to life, he would spend hours after his classes wondering around the downtown Atlanta Area feeding his fascination with the city.  By age 9 he was allowed under special permission to join a college level figure drawing course on full scholarship under the instruction of well known Atlanta Artist Ben Smith.  The following year Liss was identified by the Admissions department of the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Art and invited to study with another scholarship under Professors Robert Jergens and Richard Fiorelli.  At both the Atlanta College of Art and Cleveland Institute he was the youngest student ever to participate in these classes.  Next he attended the world renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan for 2 consecutive years in one of the most artistically inspiring environs.  Surrounded by world class violinists, pianists, dancers and the like, there was always something to draw or paint at Interlochen.  While continuing to work primarily in drawing, he experimented in many mediums such as jewelry metal-smithing, printmaking, painting, sculpture, metal fabrication, and metal casting techniques, stone carving, and others. 

Entering college at the Ohio State University, he continued to study art.  Michael continued his journey and artistic development at the University of Georgia, with a minor in Spanish.  Having developed a high interest in the Spanish language and Latin Cultures, he then began to travel abroad in Latin America to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile.  This series of trips all have had profound influence on his enthusiasm for life and his art works.  While interested and studying some of the indigenous cultures of pre-Columbian Latin America, elements of this surface in his work.  Liss’ final exit show titled “A Long Way from Top Dead Center” at the University of Georgia drew campus wide notoriety in Athens.  Several years later he had an exhibit “El Mundo Occidental” in Las Angeles.  Most of latest works during the past 12 years are oil paintings and have people as subject matter.  His studio and his home are now in the urban oasis of culture and community of the East Atlanta Village.