Michael Kershisnik

Michael Kershisnik was born and raised in a small town on the high desert plateau of Wyoming. The western landscape, its inhabitants and the culture of individualism and self reliance influenced the development of his aesthetic sensibility. As an architect and artist, the process of creation (construction and method) has been central to a wider interest in themes relating to sense of place and personal history. Often, he can be found wandering the banks of a Western stream, casting hand-tied flies, and gathering inspiration for his next creation.

"Though I am always looking to be creative with the materials at hand in the world around me, relief printing has been a pursuit for close to two decades. I find the process of hand carving a plate as essential to an image as its inspiration. The differing blades, the weight applied and style of each cut producing a distinct character for the print. These images are drawn from the flora and fauna of the West and are symbolically portrayed to infuse meaning tied to place, time and history."