Get to know local artists with us

Michael Green is a retired art educator who taught public school art class for 36 years in the Morgantown area. In 2021, Green opened his own gallery and studio space called Hogfence Studios at 357 Brockway Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26501. You can visit him there and see his work on Saturdays from 9:30am-3pm, or by appointment. 

Q: Can you tell me about your work in general and the main themes you return to in your practice?

A: My whole thing is like, “Andy Warhol meets Pablo Picasso at South Beach.” Brilliant colors, lots of bold black lines, a lot of cubistic forms. 

Q:Tell me about your creative process- how does a vision for a piece come to you, and what does the process of bringing it to life look like?

A: Everything is taken from my imagination, or nature, or whatever comes to my mind. The last piece I did was, “What if 17 year locusts were unicorns?” 

Q: What and who are some of your major creative influences?

A: Probably my art teachers and university professors through the years. Originally I wanted to be a social studies teacher, but when  met my general advisor, she said, “so you want to be a  social studies teacher? But something in me at the spur of the moment said, “No, I want to be an art teacher!” because of the influence my art teachers had in my life. 

Q: You were a Public School art teacher for 36 years. How did teaching art influence your own creative process, and has it changed since you’ve retired?

A: I have a lot of students I keep in touch with, and who have art careers of their own now. I’ve always said teaching is my fountain of youth. All you have to do is watch, sit back, and listen, and you can learn so much, and get inspired by those around you. My peers and students have always been sources of inspiration for me. 

Q: You are the only artist I know who doesn’t have an online presence on social media. Every artist in today’s world is influenced by social media, and you aren’t, how do you think that makes your work different if at all? 

A: I actually do have an Instagram account! But I don’t run it- it’s run by a mystery person. I hate social media.I have no cell phone and no computer. I only have a landline. And letters- I love writing letters! But I personally think the culture around creating and sharing art for likes has been a huge downfall for creativity and originality.

(You can find the mystery man run Instagram account @artworkbymichaelgreen)

Q: What is your favourite work you’ve produced lately and why? 

A: My new thing is trash dump revival art. I love to dumpster dive to source materials for my projects. I like to repurpose, reuse, and reinvent- it’s amazing what an old pool noodle can become! 

Q: What feelings or reactions do you hope to elicit from your viewers?

A: I want everyone to enjoy and have fun. I think any reaction is a good reaction. Every person has a spark of positivity in them. It’s just how you find it and pull it out of them. That’s what I aim to do with my work.