Bio Michael Kahlil Taylor is a multimedia visual artist and performer based in Houston, Tx and born outside New Orleans, La. From video and object installations at Project Row Houses to wall relief sculptures at the MFAH and CAMH, Taylor’s artwork and exhibitions have been a dynamically experimentation since branching off from the photography based work the began his career as an artist. Taylor is looking for projects in assemblage, installation and sculptural based projects that focus on issues facing global communities.
::: Education: ::
2003 BFA Fine Art Photography w/ Minor in English from the University of Houston
1997 Graduated of High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
::: Selected Solo Exhibitions :::
2009 “Re:Vision Pro:Cess” @ Prairie View University Gallery
2009 “Beats Rhymes & Mike” @ The Community Artists’ Collective
::: Exhibitions: Workshops, & Invitations :::
2010 “DARe to go FURther” @ Lawndale Arts Center
2010 “Art of Culture” @ MOCAH Gallery
2009 “Probe” @ Nairobi Arts Trust – GoDown Arts Center in Nairobi, Kenya
2009 “Art Crawl” @ Elder Street Artists Lofts
2008 Houston Collects (curated by MFAH curator Dr Alvia Wardlaw) @ Museum of Fine Arts Houston
2008 “Mourning Sunrise” & “Analog Allusion” Installations in Round 28: Otherwise Constricted (video and photo project) @ Project Row Houses Spring/Summer 2008
2008 “Brothas Havin Their Say” @ South Dallas Cultural Arts Center
2008 “Art-Official Intelligence” – The Museum @ Texas Southern University
2008 MFAH 5a City Wide @ Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
2007 Two Short Films collaborations with Audio Artists (AVSwap) @ Angelika Film Center and River Oaks Theatre
2007 Film Featured in Independent Black Film Festival @ University of Houston – Songai News Organization
2007 MFAH Five-A 11th Annual Citywide African American Art Exhibition @ G Gallery
2006 Brandywine Workshop Exhibition (Philadelphia)
2006 Artcetera’s “Private Stash” @ Project Row Houses
2005 “Layered Evidence” @ Lawndale Arts Center
::: Exhibitions Curated by Michael K Taylor :::
2008 “Of Women” – Co-Curated with Dr Sarah Trotty, exhibition of artwork by women artists @ Community Artists’ Collective Spring
2008 The Love Movement” Hip-Hop Fine Arts Exhibition @ Community Artists’ Collective
2007 “Future Present Series: Vol. Two” @ Community Artists’ Collective
2007 “Future Present Series: Vol. One” @ Community Artists’ Collective Panel
::: Discussions and Artists Talks :::
2008 Prairie View University Artists Talk
2008 “State of the Black Arts” Panel Discussion @ Museum of Fine Arts Houston
2008 Diverse Works Artist Development Workshop (Creative Capital) Summer
:::Awards & Grants:::
2008 Individual Artist Grant Recipient Houston Arts Alliance
Received artist grant to work on artwork and video narratives with responsibilities of documentation and presentation in a public environment.
2007 Artwork chosen for Catalog Cover Museum of Fine Arts Houston (5a)
“Spirit of Coltrane” piece chosen for cover of MFAH 5a Citywide Exhibition Catalog.
(Artwork included in both 2007 & 2008 Catalogs)
2005 Poetry Slam Inc National Competition
(Placed 17th out of over 300 poets during first day of competition as part of the Houston Slam team in Albuquerque, New Mexico.)
2005 Poetry Grand Slam Champion (Houston) 2005
2005 Amnesty International Slam Champion (Houston)
2005 San Antonio Regional Poetry Slam Champion (Houston)
:::::: Teaching & Arts Employment Experience (1997-2010) ::::::
:::Visual Art:::
Taught classes and programs related to art since graduating from High School in 1997, ranging from photography and digital art to basic drawing and painting classes. Local schools, museums and non-profits provided opportunities to teach in a creativity driven environment for children and adults.
2009/2010 Art Instructor at the University of Houston Charter School
1997-2005 Taught art with various organizations such as Project Row Houses, People in Partnerships & Community Artists’ Collective.
:::Narrative Writing and Performance Poetry::
2007-2008
Spoken Word Instructor (Project Row Houses)
Spoken Word Workshop Feature (Young Houston Writers)
Poetry Slam Team Coach (T.S.U. Collegiate)
Spoken Word Instructor (Voices Breaking Boundaries)
2005-2006 TAAS Writing Coach (Hartman M.S. HISD) Fall 2005-Spring 2006
:::Museums, Galleries, and Independent:::
2007-2010 Exhibition Coordinator – Community Artists’ Collective
1997-2000 Blaffer Gallery Docent (Exhibition Education & Tours)