Visual artist, Michael Parr grew up interested in the arts, history and literature. He completed a BA degree at Central Michigan University and two MA degrees at the University of Michigan; he taught middle school language arts and was a high school librarian until retirement. During that time he pursued his interest in art, taking evening classes at the Kirk Newman Art School at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts; studying under Denise Lisiecki, Alex Hall and Joshua Dietrich.
In 2007 Michael entered an atelier program at Kenneth Freed Studio where he received a grounding in two dimensional art and rigorous training in various paint mediums.
His works have been accepted into numerous Michigan juried shows, and have been purchased by private individuals in Michigan and nationally.
Selected Awards
2008 Best of Show, Social Justice, Juried Competition, Lansing Art Gallery, Lansing, MI
2015 Best of Show, Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibit, Carnegie Center for the Arts, Three Rivers, MI
2016 Honorable Mention, Annual MCC Juried competition, The Box Factory for the Arts,,
St. Joseph, MI