michael g. williams
Michael G. Williams was born in Tidewater Virginia in 1971. It is here he developed his love for the outdoors and his love of art. In 1996 he moved to Fairbanks Alaska where he lived for eight years. In that time, he explored the vast expanses of the Alaskan wilderness and used this exploration as inspiration for his artwork. He earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2003. Michael relocated to Baton Rouge Louisiana in 2004 and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 2008. In Louisiana, his exploration of the swamps of the Atchafalaya basin and his interest in the barrier islands of the Gulf Coast became the focal point of his master’s thesis.
“My work represents my love and exploration of the natural world. Over the past two decades, my influences have come from the diverse landscapes of central Alaska, southern Louisiana and watersheds throughout North America, Asia and Europe.
My draw to the wilderness has led me to receding glaciers, subsiding saltwater marshes, and transformed lands that are now experiencing changes due to actions taken many years ago. This work represents my experiences in these vastly different but closely related places.
As our landscapes change, my work stands as an intermediate point representing current and past ways of life. With the use of simple reclaimed and cast materials my designs speak to time, labor and tradition.” - Williams
Currently, Michael lives in Thibodaux Louisiana where he is an Associate Professor of Art at Nicholls State University teaching Sculpture. He continues to spend his summers in Alaska and to travel abroad collecting experiences. Michael uses these adventures, landscapes, and experiences to inform his works of art.
