Contact Michael at   info @ inkydreadfuls.com 

About the Artist

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 Theater Arts 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 Buffalo, New York, with his wife Elizabeth and their tnree cats, 99, Mavis and Charlotte.   Artist Statement Each work is hand drawn in various ink forms, crudely brushed and scratched at times for a gritty, textured aesthetic. I create nostalgic scenarios of childhood naiveté with a charming, sinister twist. Beginning first with a drawing then initial strokes in black India ink, I then use rapidographs, archival brush pens, to smudge and blend, creating dramatic effects. The subjects are drawn as if they are paper cutouts, evoking Victorian paper dolls and acting as a bridge for the viewer between traditional virtues and modern day corruption. This technique also serves to create a focal point for the works and narrative.  Juxtaposing the virtuous image of a little child with boldly exposed inner childlike cruelty, I attempt to create humorous vignettes, fictitious moments of life captured in time. “I am continually fascinated by the power of children and the reactions they generate from viewers, --  the simple way they permeate our core.” Using multiple figurative images from both contemporary and vintage photography, I combine parts of these various elements to create an amalgamation of my own devise. Inspired by new and old journalistic-style photography, as well as cabinet cards and children’s picture books, I spend hours scouring eBay and flea markets to gather the studies for my subjects that then influence the physical traits of the children in the works, as well as their surrounding objects, clothing and furniture.  A collector of photography for many years, I am constantly inspired by the likes of Shelby Lee Adams, Mary Ellen Mark, Roger Ballen, and E. J. Bellocq. “Seeing real people, real expressions - moments of a hard life captured on people’s faces - becomes inspirational to me.”

ARTIST RESUME   Born: Andover, MA 1965   Education BFA 1987 Theater Arts Program, University of Bridgeport, CT 2003          Art Students League, New York, NY     Major Exhibitions 2010   "Youth Parade" The Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA  (Upcoming Solo in January) 2009   The Antonia Von Fraunberg Art Gallery, Dusseldorf, Germany (Solo) 2008   McCaig-Welles Gallery, New York, NY (Solo) 2008   Phobias, Foibles & Fiends, The Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA  (Solo) 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  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  Group Exhibition, Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2006  Living Dead Dolls Art Show, 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 University of Bridgeport alumni periodical "Knightlines" interview, 2009 ISM Untitled Love Project Book: December 2008 NYArts Magazine: October/November 2008 Juxtapoz Magazine: August 2008 - Artist Profile 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