Flock

Michael Gallagher is a painter whose practice moves fluidly between abstraction and representation. His method begins with recognizable motifs—birds—which he reduces to geometric shapes and earthen color, then pushes through repetition, scale shifts, and spatial compression. Working primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas and panel, Gallagher builds paintings using what he describes as an 'all-over' strategy inspired by Pollock, where hierarchies flatten and pattern becomes structural. A central concept in his studio is 'slippage,' where a single form—a triangle—functions simultaneously as beak, arrow, or wedge of light depending on context. This iterative process creates surfaces that balance sharp geometry with hand-worked textures, inviting viewers to engage through color, edges, and the act of continually finding and losing visual recognition. Gallagher is a Professor at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a six-time recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. His work is held in public and corporate collections including the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Woodmere Museum of Art, PepsiCo, MasterCard, and Legg Mason.