Michel Erussad Artist

Michel Erussard was born in France. The severe landscapes of the North Coast of Britany, to which he is connected in many ways, and the area’s Celtic culture have a strong influence on his work. As an executive of a large company he lived in Spain, Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. The colors and ambiance of these countries also resonate in his art. His first move to the US was in the 1970’s. He lived in Soho, NYC. In 1990 he moved to Michigan where he lives now.

In his many years as head of companies around the world, Erussard faced extremely stressful situations. He was the object of death threats for months. He had to shut down entire companies. He navigated a company of 10,000 employees through hyper-inflation. All of these difficult experiences found a place in his paintings. Art always was an integral, balancing part of Michel’s life. He explains, ”As a top executive subject to a lot of pressure, painting for me was a way to keep my sanity."

Oil and spray paintings

1990-2005

on wood or canvas

Pencil and oil on japanese paper

1995-2000

dimensions: 17"x21"

Before the period represented on this site- 1990 to the present- Michel’s work had been mostly abstract watercolors. For a time they were structured by contours of mechanical parts and of jig-saw puzzles. Later he added to his abstract watercolors imprints of Pre-Colombian ceramic rollers from Colombia and Ecuador. He also created large, colorful oil paintings, in which he started to include words and abbreviations.

The current paintings are smaller and are inspired by images from books, magazines and newspapers and by events in the world. With the words that he includes in his paintings Michel projects through his subjects a poetic or humorous commentary. A voracious reader, he immerses himself in art history, literature, world politics and poetry. The text that he adds to many of his paintings, are words that echo ageless ironies.

Michel has been drawing and painting since he was a child. In his teens he studied drawing and painting in different places in Paris, and later at the Art Student League in New York. His mother, who died at a young age, was a painter and a recognized engraver.

One man shows

-2001 Design Works, Metamora, MI

-1996 Bunting Gallery, Royal Oak, MI

-1991 Galeria Van Riel, Buenos Aires, Argentina

-1997 Clement Gallery, Amsterdam, Holland

-1989 Galerie Vermeer, Buenos Aires, Argentina

-1989 Galerie Chevalier, Bologna Art Fair, Italy

Group shows

-2017 Galerie Camille, Detroit, MI

-2017 sushipoint, Ibiza, Spain

-1997 Clement Gallery, Amsterdam, Holland

-1994 Biegas Gallery, Detroit, MI