Michael Mararian possesses a poetic propensity for taking traditionally cheerful images and concepts and turning them into frightening, yet humorous, tableaus.  Focusing on children as the last bastion of innocence, Mararian draws on a diverse range of influences to deliver the peculiar ink work he aptly calls, M. Mararian's Inky Dreadfuls. In this world our fondest visions of childhood’s naiveté are darkly rearranged to uncover lost innocence and the fear of our modern times.    Though often shroud in the macabre, Michaels' ink paintings are also suffused with a sense of mischievous, almost self-deprecating humor. What can on one level be construed as melancholy and cruel, can alternately be viewed as amusing, even charming.  He enjoys letting his viewers decide.

Raised as an only child in Massachusetts, Mararian delves into his fantasy of being a child among many. Primarily a self-taught artist and children's theater playwright, he is a graduate of the Art and Theater program at the University of Bridgeport as well having studied briefly at the Art Students League in New York City. His work has previously been shown at Corey Helford Gallery and Thinkspace Gallery in Los Angeles, Galerie D’Art Yves Laroche in Montreal, and McCaig-Welles Gallery in New York City. Artistic influences include Edward Gorey, Lewis Carroll and Norman Rockwell.  Michael currently resides and practices his art in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife Elizabeth and their two cats, 99 and Mavis.

Contact Michael here 

ARTIST RESUME   Born: Andover, MA 1965   Education BFA 1987 Art and Theater Program, University of Bridgeport, CT 2003          Art Students League, New York, NY   Major Exhibitions 2008   Phobias, Foibles & Fiends, The Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (confirmed) 2008   McCaig-Welles Gallery, New York, NY (confirmed) 2007   Little Unfortunates, The Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA   Group Exhibitions   2008  DEEP POP, Kenneth Chapman Gallery, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY 2007  Tree Trimming II, JFlynn Gallery, Mesa, CA 2007  Bridge Art Fair, Miami, FL 2007  The War Show, The Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007  Halloween Show, WindUp Gallery, Mesa, AZ 2007  Sweet Calaveras, Yves Laroche Gallerie D'Art,  Montreal, Canada 2007  UntitledLoveProject#4, ISM Quarterly and Thinkspace, Los Angeles, CA 2006  Art Benefit For Kim Maria of Revelation Studios, Aidon Savoy Gallery, New York, NY  2006  White Elephant Show, Art Benefit For The Children's Hospital of Orange           County, Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006  All things Polynesian: A Tribute to Tiki, Puka Bar of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 2006  Group Exhibition, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006  Living Dead Dolls Art Show, New York, NY   2006  Fourth Annual Halloween Show, MF Gallery, New York , NY 2006  Picks of the Harvest , Thinkspace Gallery, Santa Monica, Los Angeles 2005  The Dirty Show Expo, Detroit, MI 2005  See You In Hell, MF Gallery, New York, NY     Bibliography and Interviews New York Press, Joe Pompeo, "Monsters, lost innocence and macabre drawings at MF Gallery,” November, 2007 Ourartsite.com, Zach Smith, "Inky Dreadfuls Interview", July, 2007    Lady Lamb and Popsy, "Interview with Inky Dreadfuls (a.k.a Michael Mararian)”, October 24, 2007   Moco Loco, June 25, 2007 Curious Artist, Amon Focus, July 19, 2007