Michael Yankowski, Professor of Art, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, Louisiana
I have been an artist all of my life, and can name specific influences directing me to this point. Captain Kangaroo taught me about construction paper, scissor and glue. Burt Lancaster as the "Bird Man of Alcatraz" showed me how to construct a cage from wood. I watched my mother Eleanor water color and studied drafting for four years in high school. I took my first art class with David Kuicherer at Neenah High School. While at the University of Wisconsin, William Wiley "Knighted" the entire drawing class and I learned much from Skip Johnson, Fred Fenster and other talented professors.
In 1974, my wife Joanne became my most influential critic. I began exploring air brush and construction while teaching at JFK Prep High School in St. Nazianz Wisconsin, and learned graphic design from Brother Cosmos. I was a commercial photographer in Appleton, Wisconsin and had the opportunity to work as a graphic designer in Doha, Qatar. My two daughters asked for praise and typically received suggestions.
I was invited by Rivers Murphy to join the faculty at Northwestern State University in 1989. Bill Bryant became my mentor and taught me how to build guitars and we play in the Back Porch Band. My big art "breaks" came from shows at McMurtry Gallery in Houston, Gruen Gallery in Chicago and Carol Robinson Gallery in New Orleans. Receiving a Louisiana Artists Endowment in 2000, I also learned carousel animal carving from Bud Elllis of Chattanooga and studied carving in Austria and Ketchikan, Alaska..
Cast Paper, Twigs
Oak, Bass
Represented by Carol Robinson Gallery
New Orleans
2020 - "Under Pressure" National printmaking Exhibiiton
Lincoln Center, Ft Collins Co.
2020 - "Ink Matters," National Print Making Competition,
Indiana University, Kokomo
2018 - 31st Annual International September Competition
Alexandria Museum of Art, Louisiana
2018 - 30th Annual National Competition,
Texarkana Regional Arts Center
2017 - 30th Annual International September Competition
Alexandria Museum of Art, Louisiana
2017 - 4th Biennial National Competition,
Louisiana Tech University, Ruston
2016 - Two sculptures purchase by the Alexandria Museum of Art
2015 - "Artists Among Us," Group Exhibit, Alexandria Museum of Art
2015 - 35th Annual Box Competition ,
Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle
2014 - Louisiana Contemporary Competiton, Ogden Museum, N.O
2014 - The Guitar Project, Alexandria LA Museum of Art
2013 - Mighty Tieton 4th International, Tieton, WA
2013 - Louisiana Biennial National Competition, Louisiana Tech
2013 - Group exhibition, Carol Robinson Gallery
2013 - One Man Show, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA
2012 - "Art Melt" Baton Rouge, Louisiana Artists Competition
2012 - "Design in Wood" International, San Diego, Honorable mention
2011 - "Positive/Negative" National, University of East Tennessee
2011 - "Art Kudos" International WEB competition
2011 - "Design in Wood" International, San Diego, Honorable mention
2010 - One Man Show, Baylor Women's College, Waco, Texas
2010 - "20x20x20" National Competition, LSU Baton Rouge
2010 - "Surreal Salon" National, Baton Rouge Gallery, Honorable mention
2009 - One Man Show, Louisiana State University, Alexandria
2008 - "42nd National Competition", Del Mar College, Corpus Christi
2007 - "20x20x20" National Competition, LSU Baton Rouge , First Prize
2007 - One Man Show, Alexandria Museum of Art
2007 - One Man Show, Carol Robinson Gallery, New Orleans
2007 - Derby Endowed Professorship, Northwestern State University
2006 - "40th National Competition" , Del Mar College, Corpus Christi
2006 - "September Competition" Alexandria Museum of Art, LA, First Prize
2005 - "32nd National Competition" Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
2005 - "Louisiana All Media Competition" , LSU Baton Rouge, First Prize
2000 - Louisiana Endowed Artist