Mike Ousley is an Appalachian Artist quickly gaining attention both regionally and nationally. Ousley’s work has been exhibited widely and published. Ousley has been featured twice in Artmaze Magazine’s international publication and his work was recently included in New American Paintings.
Mike Ousley’s whimsical, otherworldly paintings are inspired by his childhood in the Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern Kentucky. His works incorporate elements of myth, fairy tale, local lore, and Appalachian life and traditions.
"I decided I wanted to take my painting back to the way I created images as a child, inspired by the visionary art of Kentucky and other Southern Folk artists... The storytelling traditions of Appalachia are a powerful influence."
Mike Ousley
“Ousley’s jewel-like paintings tell narratives that are ostensibly playful, even whimsical, like the parables of Heironymous Bosch.”
Michael Rooks,
Curator of Contemporary Art, High Museum
Selected Exhibitions
2023
(Upcoming: Dec 16, 2023), Haley Fine Art Holiday Show. Sperryville, VA (solo)
2022
‘Tales from the Deep Dark Hills’ James Barron Art. Kent, CT (solo)
‘After Dark’ mepaintsme.com group exhibition. Virtual
David Zwirner’s Platform. New York, NY (solo)
Artmaze Magazine v. 29
New American Paintings v. 166 South. Curated by Michael Rooks
2021
One in a Year, The Painting Center. New York, NY
From These Hills Biennial, Abingdon Museum of Art. Abingdon, VA
Nine Lives Exhibition, Fortnite Institute. Curated by Fabiola Alondra and Jane Harmon. Manhattan, NY
Artmaze Magazine v. 22
The Nature Mystics, Visions West Contemporary. Denver, CO
Mountain Standard Time, Visions West Contemporary. Bozeman, MT
‘Appalachian Anthem’ Bloomfield Richwood Gallery. Richwood, WV (solo)
2020
43rd Annual Exhibition of the Ohio Watercolor Society
Blue Mountain Gallery National Juried Exhibition. Juror: Martica Sawin. New York, NY
Ohio Art League Fall and Spring Juried Exhibitions. Columbus, OH
2019
Aqueous Southwestern Ohio Group exhibition by Invitation
42nd Annual Exhibition of the Ohio Watercolor Society
Bryn Du Annual National Juried Exhibition. Juror: Mary Gray of Riffe gallery
2017-2018
From Where We Stand, group exhibition, Thomas Moore College
Juried Show, Art Access Gallery. Bexley, OH
Images of the Mountains (traveling juried exhibition), Appalshop. Juror: Arturo Sandoval. Whitesburg, KY
Remembered Exhibition, Dayton Society of Artists Galleries. 1st Place Award. Juror: Annie Lee Zimmerle. Dayton, OH
2016
79th Midyear Exhibition, Butler institute of American Art. Youngstown, OH
Images of The Mountains: Traveling Exhibition of Eastern Kentucky Artists, Appalshop. Whitesburg, KY
62nd Annual Exhibition of The National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic
2012-2014
Four Seasons, Sherry French Gallery. New York, NY
Group Show, Cuyahoga Community College. Highland Hills, OH
Three Person Show, High Lonesome, Antioach University. Yellow Springs, OH
2010-2011
Invitational Group Show, Heike Pickett. Lexington, KY
2008-2009
Small Works Juried Exhibition. Evansville, IN
All Ohio Juried Exhibition: The Pearl Conrad Gallery, The Ohio State University of Mansfield. Mansfield, OH
The Hills, (Exhibition of Regional Artists of Southern Ohio), The Pump House Art Gallery. Chillicothe, OH
From a Man's Perspective: Exhibition of works by male artists of Southern Ohio, Pump House Gallery. Chillicothe, OH
2007
Something in the Water, Juried Group Exhibition of Regional Artist’s, Morehead State University. Morehead, KY
Morehead State University: Juried Alumni Exhibition. Morehead, KY
Panel Speaker for symposium of Appalachian Artist’s: A current perspective
2006
Drawing from Perception, Wright State University. Dayton, OH
Old Fashioned Day’s Juried Exhibition
Pendleton Art’s Center Group Show. Ashland, KY
Solo Exhibitions and Residencies
Selected Works: Ashland Community and Technical College. Ashland, KY
M.F.A Thesis Exhibition: Tangeman Fine Arts Gallery. University of Cincinnati.Cincinnati, OH
Recent Paintings: The Mountain Arts Center. Prestonsburg, KY
Something on the Wind: Morehead State University. Morehead, KY
Huntington Museum of Art painting residency and study with Alfred Leslie
Arc of the Appalachia's Artist in Residence 2020
North Mountain Residency. Shanghai, WV
'I'd rather be in some Dark Holler', Dayton Society of Artists. 2021
Committees, Lectures, Papers, and Activities
Juror for ‘Evening with the Art’s’, a district wide exhibition of Schools Art’s for the Community
Attended the National Art Education Conference in Los Angeles, California
This consisted of numerous workshops and symposiums on effective teaching
Techniques, curriculum development, multicultural art education, technology in art education, and teaching across the curriculum
Guest Speaker for statewide Appalachian Arts: Forum. Morehead State University
Juror. State High School Juried Exhibition. Morehead State University
B.F.A Candidate Review Committee:
reviewed a large group of students applying for candidacy to the B.F.A program. Along
with other committee members, provided criticism to these students and voted on their candidacy.
Guest Critic. University of Cincinnati
Served on a Committee to review applicants for the M.F.A program. University of Cincinnati, School of Art
B.F.A Review Committee: University of Cincinnati
Served on a Committee to review applicants for the M.F.A. program. University of Cincinnati
President for the Morehead State University Visual Arts Guild
Public and Private Collections
The Ashland Community College
The Ashland District of the United Methodist Church
Collection of Highlands Regional Medical Center, Prestonsburg, KY
Morehead State University
Collection of Dr. Bernard and Theresa Greisman
Collection of Mr. Eric Bruvold
Collection of Dr. Jonathan Reiss
Collection of Mr.Randall Sackerson
Collection of Professor Robert J. Franzini
Collection of The Ohio State University of Mansfield
Collection Needham, MA
Collection Austin, TX
Collection Lynchburg, VA
Collection Buckhannon, WV
Collection Verona, WI
Education
Masters of Fine Arts: Painting and Drawing. The University of Cincinnati School of Art, College of DAAP.
Bachelor of Arts (Magna cum Laude): Morehead State University, Department of Art. Morehead, KY.
Morehead State University: College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.