Mike Chavez

Mike Chavez, is a mid-career artist now based in the Byron Bay Shire. Chavez was born in the Philippines and studied at the Queensland College of Art from 1988 to 1990. He was classically trained as an animator and in a career spanning over 16 years worked for such studios as Disney, Warner Brothers and Dreamworks. In 2006 he switched his focus to fine art and quickly gained kudos for his skill and uncompromising subject matter. His works explore themes of racism, the ‘complexities of the human condition’ and the ‘Philippine diaspora’. In 2009 he was nominated as a finalist for the Archibald award, Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize. He has exhibited in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Belgium, London and New York and his work has appeared in Vogue Living, Country Style, Belle, Urbis, Lino, Empty, Black + White and Art Monthly.

The current exhibition now showing (in Mullumbimby from 23rd Sep to 13th October 2020) of work from past and present ‘THRILLA FROM MANILA’ is full of the usual punch and skill that the art world has come to expect from this formerly Melbourne-based artist. He has been an Archibald Prize finalist and nominated as “one of the top 20 artists under 35 in Australia”.

Awards
2009 selected finalist Archibald prize
2008 selected finalist Fleurieu art prize
2007 selected finalist Prometheus award
2007 selected finalist Metro 5 award (sort of)

Public Collections
National Portrait Gallery, Artbank, Latrobe University Museum, Lismore Art Gallery, Rockhampton Art Gallery, Gold Coast City Art Gallery and Hardy’s S.A.

As a mid-career artist, with a huge fan base his work is becoming more an more collectable!

Artwork

  • Mike Chavez – Chill Out
  • Mike Chavez – Cheer Up
  • Mike Chavez – Slow Down
  • Mike Chavez – Forevs
  • Mike Chavez – Ditto
  • Mike Chavez – Hello
  • Mike Chavez – Lori Love
  • Mike Chavez – Nuts
  • Mike Chavez – Sparrow Love
  • Mike Chavez – Squirrel Love
  • Mike Chavez – Totes
  • Mike Chavez – WTF
  • Mike Chavez – Die Hard
  • Mike Chavez – Moe
  • Mike Chavez – Wiggum
  • Mike Chavez – Homer
  • Mike Chavez – Bart
  • Mike Chavez – Mystery Meat
  • Mike Chavez – Don’t cha wish (your girlfriend was a freak like me)
  • Mike Chavez – Double Penetration
  • Mike Chavez – It rubs the lotion on its skin
  • Mike Chavez – More bank 4 your buck