JANE SAUER GALLERY - Michael Bergt

MICHAEL BERGT

Press Release
Michael Bergt
About Face

Click on PHOTO to view Press Release

Statement on the Artist
I've always been fascinated with the figure beautifully rendered and by pattern and decoration. In my new work, I focus on these two interests: my figure studies are given a context within the designs found in erotic Japanese "Shunga" prints, Persian miniatures and the pattern traditions of Eastern Art: realism and pattern/Eastern and Western aesthetics.

The history of art can be seen as an attempt to balance these two intentions: to create the illusion of three dimensions, or focus more on an interpretive, abstract quality, thereby enhancing pattern and decoration. This reflects the contrast between a literal and symbolic view of the world—confirming what we perceive—contrasted with what we feel about what we perceive.

When you include a narrative, the dynamic becomes even greater. What is the meaning of what we're doing, how does it look, and what pattern does it create? If we relax the need to separate what is real from what is imagined it becomes simply a relationship, and thus gains power. Those relationships are the potentialities from which we construct our culture, our sense of self, and our identity. Time and space are in play, and "play" is the operative word for what I'm doing.

Selected Permanent Collections
de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA
Arnot Museum of Art, Elmira, NY
California Palace of the Legion of Honor,
.....The Achenbach Collection, San Francisco, CA
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center,
.....Colorado Springs, CO
Eastern New Mexico State University, Portales, NM
Evansville Museum, Evansville, IN
Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Kalamazoo, MI
Michigan State University Art Museum, East Lansing, MI
Fons D'Art del Diari Avui, Barcelona, Spain
St. John's College, Santa Fe, NM
The Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM
Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH

Michael's Models

Adam w Lion Tamer
Adam with "LION TAMER"

Raven
Raven with the "BAPTISM"

Click on above PHOTO to view Michael's Opening

Michael Bergt's Complete Resume

Please contact us for other available works
info@jsauergallery.com

DRAWINGS AND GOLD LEAF

PAINTINGS

"OMEN"
Michael Bergt
Egg tempera and gold leaf on panel
27 1/2" x 21 1/2" (33 1/2" x 27 1/2" Framed)
$12,500

"The black crows behind the portrait were from a Japanese screen. I loved the way the birds all had their beaks open, as if announcing something. The man is looking over his shoulder as if he’s aware of something behind him, or wondering if something is following him. I wanted to create an air of suspense around him. The flat patterning of the black crows creates that psychological tension to frame the subject’s state of mind. They are like a message, or a warning of some sort. Perhaps they’re an omen." MB

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"DOVETAIL"
Michael Bergt
Egg tempera and gold leaf on panel
16" x 13"
$5,750

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Venus

"VENUS AND MARS"
Michael Bergt
Egg tempera and gold leaf on panel
9" x 11 1/2"
$2,750

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Annunciation2

"ANNUNCIATION"
Michael Bergt
Egg tempera, gold
24" x 30" (30" x 36" Framed)
$18,000

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Truebeliever

"TRUE BELIEVER"
Michael Bergt
Egg Tempera
16 1/2" x 13 1/2" (25" x 19 1/4" Framed)
$10,000

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Michael Bergt

"IMAGINATION"
Michael Bergt
Egg Tempera on panel
23" x 30" (35" x 28" Framed)
$17,500

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DRAWINGS

"DELUGE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
21 1/2" x 14 1/2" (30 1/2" x 23" Framed)
$3,500

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"ECLIPSE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
14 1/2" x 21 1/2" (22 1/2" x 30 1/2" Framed)
$3,250

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"REVIVE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
19 1/2" x 14 1/2" (28" x 23" Framed)
$3,250

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"CUTTING THE REINS"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
21 1/2" x 14 1/2" (30 1/2" x 23 1/4" Framed)
$3,250

"A man is holding the split-reins of a yellow, spotted horse. It’s not clear if the horse is leaping off the ground, or actually flying. However, the second horse, which is flying past, him is clearly in the air. There’s a fantasy-like quality to the two horses; they’re mythical creatures and he’s on for the ride. To 'cut the reins' is to let loose and abandon control. Therefore, the man is letting his fantasies run free…." MB

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"GATHERING THOUGHTS"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
16" x 14 1/2" (24 1/2" x 23 1/4" Framed)
$3,000

"In this portrait, I’m playing with a metaphorical concept. What would it look like if thoughts were floating elements that we could gather around us? As we do, we run them through our thoughts and let them settle around us only to find we’re 'wearing' them as part of our identity. Even so, we’re always shuffling the elements, and rearranging the possibilities." MB

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"MONKEY MIND"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
14 1/2" x 21 1/2" (23 1/4" x 30 1/4" Framed)
$3,250

"In Buddhism, 'Monkey Mind' refers to our inconsistent, confused and capricious self. Whenever our smaller 'self' undermines our intentions then we can blame it on our Monkey Mind keeping us running around and around. In the piece, the Monkey has his ears covered, as if he’s refusing to hear or listen to reason…that’s our monkey mind at work. Yet,
the subject is embracing this Monkey Mind, sure it’s his best friend. As long as he embraces this, he’ll never realize his folly." MB

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"NAVIGATING INFLUENCE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
18" x 14 1/2" (27 1/4" x 22 3/4" Framed)
$3,250

"This is a classic Renaissance portrait profile, like a Ghirlandaio painting. However, surrounding the figure are stylized Asian hands and feet. They are touching her head, pulling her hair, pushing at her back, and reaching out from her chest. These hands and feet are like unconscious influences informing us. Something is touching our thoughts, something is holding us back, while something else pushes us forward, meanwhile, we desire to reach out and touch an object of desire…these are the influences we navigate." MB

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"TRANSFIGURATION"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
18 1/2" x 14 1/2" (28" x 23 1/2" Framed)
$3,000

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"WRAPT"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
14" x 21" (23 1/4" x 30" Framed)
$3,250

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The Dream

"THE DREAM "
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
18 1/2" x 14 1/2" (28 1/2" x 23 1/2" Framed)
$3,250

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Power

"POWER VS. FORCE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
37 1/2 " x 24" (47 1/4" x 31 1/2" Framed)
$6,500

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Resistance

"RESISTANCE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
22" x 18 1/2" (29 3/4" x 27 1/2" Framed)
$4,000

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Schema

"SCHEMA"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
14 1/2 " x 21 1/2"
$3,000

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The Crown

"THE CROWN"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
19" x 13" (28" x 21 1/2" Framed)
$3,000

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Acrobats

"ACROBATS"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
22" x 14 1/2" (31 1/2" x 23 1/4" Framed)
$3,250

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Nurture

"NURTURE"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
29 1/2 " x 21 1/2" (38 3/4" x 31 1/2" Framed)
$5,500

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Released

"RELEASED"
Michael Bergt
Color pencil and gouache on toned paper
21 1/2 " x 14 1/2" (30 1/2" x 23 1/2" Framed)
$3,250

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DRAWINGS AND GOLD LEAF

Rising

"RISING AND SETTING"
Michael Bergt
Gold leaf on panel
11" x 7"
$1,000

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Grouping

"THE GROUPING"
Michael Bergt
Gold leaf on panel
17" x 13"
$2,500

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Icarus

"ICARUS"
Michael Bergt
Gold leaf on panel
18" x 14"
$3,000

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Trilogy

"TRILOGY"
Michael Bergt
Gold leaf on panel
16" x 13"
$2,500

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Yin Yang

"YIN / YANG"
Michael Bergt
Gold leaf on panel
18 1/4" x 14 "
$3,000

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INK DRAWINGS

10-2

"INK DRAWING 10-2"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
13" x 20"
$250

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10-3

"INK DRAWING 10-3"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
20" x 13"
$250

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10-5

"INK DRAWING 10-5"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
20" x 13"
$250

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Rolling Around

"ROLLING AROUND"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
10 1/2" x 16 1/2" (18" x 24" Framed)
$650

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Standing

"NICKI STANDING"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
14 3/4" x 10 1/2" (24" x 18" Framed)
$650

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Around

"AROUND ABOUT"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
10 1/2" x 17 3/4" (18" x 24" Framed)
$650

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Leaning

"LEANING"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
14 3/4" x 11 1/4" (24" x 18" Framed)
$650

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Ying Yang 2

"YIN / YANG"
Michael Bergt
Ink on paper
10 1/2" x 16 3/4" (18" x 24" Framed)
$650

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ETCHINGS

Michael Bergt

"LEDA" Edition of 45
Michael Bergt
Etching with copper plate on Arches cover paper
7 3/4" x 5 7/8" on 11 1/4" x 7 1/2" paper
$250

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Michael Bergt

"LET'S MAKE A DEAL" Edition of 25
Michael Bergt
Etching with copper plate on Arches cover paper
11 3/4" x 8 3/4" on 15" x 11" paper
$350

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Michael Bergt

"MAGICAL FEET" Edition of 25
Michael Bergt
Etching with zinc plate on Arches cover paper
11 3/4" x 7 3/4" on 16" x 11 3/4" paper
$400

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Michael Bergt

"EUROPA" Edition of 45
Michael Bergt
Etching with copper plate on Arches cover paper
6" x 8 3/4" on 10" x 13 3/4" paper
$350

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Michael Bergt

"ON LINE" Edition of 25
Michael Bergt
Etching with copper plate on Arches cover paper
6" x 8 3/4" on 10" x 14" paper
$250

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Michael Bergt

"THE ROWER" Edition of 35
Michael Bergt
Etching with copper plate on Somerset paper
11 3/4" x 8 3/4" on 15" x 11" paper
$350

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Michael Bergt

"SAME BOAT" Edition of 30
Michael Bergt
Etching with copper plate on Arches cover paper
10" x 8" on 15" x 11 1/8" paper
$350

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Michael Bergt

"KEEPING UP" Edition of 45
Michael Bergt
Etching with zinc plate on Arches cover paper
11 1/2" x 7 3/4" on 16" x 11 1/4" paper
$350

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The Play

"THE PLAY'S THE THING"
Michael Bergt
Etching with zinc plate on Arches cover paper
11 3/4" x 8 3/4" on 15" x 11" paper
$350

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Click HERE to see SOLD Artworks

JANE SAUER GALLERY