About the Work
Michael Phelan’s latest series of archival pigment prints invites viewers into a layered exploration of American culture and identity, merging art history, design, and mass-media references. His six-print collection—featuring titles like Cinnamon Girl , Tonight's The Night, Sugar Mountain, Heart of Gold, Zuma, and On The Beach —draws inspiration from iconic songs and albums by Neil Young. Often called the 'Godfather of Grunge' for his profound influence on artists like Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder, Young’s titles echo through Phelan’s work as both cultural touchstones and reflective symbols.
Phelan's approach to this series repositions Young's titles, connecting viewers to themes of utopian ideals and the co-option of lifestyle aesthetics pervasive in American culture. Through this recontextualization, Phelan encourages a contemplation of language’s role—both explicit and implicit—in shaping Western identity and values, probing whether certain aspirational philosophies can escape commodification.
Set in editions of 25 plus one Artist’s Proof (AP) and one Printer’s Proof (PP), each print captures a unique equilibrium between nostalgia and contemporary critique, engaging the viewer in a personal, often philosophical reflection on the American experience and the evolving symbolism within its visual and cultural lexicon.
Artist Biography
Michael Phelan (b. Beaumont, TX) lives and works in Marfa, Texas; following his studio practice in New York City, where he lived and worked for fifteen plus years. Phelan's work has been exhibited extensively throughout the US and Europe, including: Mary Boone Gallery, NYC; Andrew Kreps Gallery, NYC; Leo Koenig, NYC; MoMA PS1, L.I.C., NY; The Kitchen, NYC; Artists Space, NYC; Sculpture Center, L.I.C, NY; Bard Center for Curatorial Studies, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY; Shane Campbell, Chicago; Lora Reynolds, Austin; Ballroom, Marfa; Mitterrand + Sanz Contemporary Art, Zurich; and Galerie Mitterrand, Paris.
Selected Group Exhibitions include Greater New York, MoMA PS1, L.I.C, NY; View (Five): Westworld, Mary Boone Gallery, NY; View (Eleven) curated by Amy Smith Stewart, Mary Boone Gallery, NYC; California Dreamin curated by Stefan Simchowitz, Portugal Arte, Lisbon, Portugal; The Morning After (aka RU-486) curated by Benjamin Godsill, 2nd Tbilisi Contemporary Art Exhibition, Capital of Georgia, Tbilisi; Sparking Dialogue, curated by Senior Curator Jen Mergel, Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Art, Boston; Blind Cut , Marlborough Gallery, NY (Catalogue); Warhol and..., Kantor Gallery, LA; Watch Your Step, FLAG Art Foundation, NYC | Young Americans: An overview of the American Contemporary Art Scene, curated by Marc-Olivier Wahler, from the collection of Susanne van Hagen, Hôtel de Miramion, Paris; and Abstract America 2: New Paintings from the US, Saatchi Gallery, London (Catalogue)
Michael Phelan's work is included in prominent Public and Private Collections throughout the US and Europe. He has been featured in numerous publications: including Artforum, Frieze, Modern Painters, Art in America, Cultured Magazine, Galerie Magazine, Flaunt Magazine, Men's Vogue, Vogue Italia, The New York Times, T Magazine, The Boston Globe, and The Huffington Post, among others. Phelan holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Authentication & Resale
Signed and numbered on an archival label en verso. This work is also accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity is signed and numbered by the artist .
Be sure to keep your Certificate of Authenticity (COA) in a safe place. We are unable to replace or reissue COAs.
Framing
To frame this artwork please contact help@exhibitiona.com. Framed artwork is custom framed once it is ordered. Allow 3-5 weeks for framing and delivery.
FRAME
All of our frames are made from sustainably sourced engineered hardwood that is manufactured in the USA. Frames are available in Black or White Matte and Walnut.
MAT
Prints are hinged to a conservation quality, acid-free and lignin-free Cellulose matboard, using acid-free polyethylene cloth tape. Each mat’s surface paper is fade and bleed resistant and is attached to a conversation quality foam-core board. Some of our work (typically those pieces with a deckled edge) is floated on the matboard with spacers to separate the artwork from the glazing.
GLAZING
We use museum quality .060 mm plexiglass to frame your work. It blocks 82-85% of UV rays to prevent color fading from exposure to light, protecting your art for years to come.
DIMENSIONS
Our White and Black frames have a ⅞” wide flat face and are 15/16” deep. Mats are 1” wide for prints up to 8” x 10”. Mats are 2” wide for prints larger than 8” x 10”.
Our Natural and Walnut frames have a ¾” wide flat face and are 1 ⅛” deep. Mats are 1” wide for prints up to 8” x 10”. Mats are 2” wide for prints larger than 8” x 10”.
Any artwork that is floated will be placed in a frame that has a ⅝” wide flat face and is 1 5/16” deep. Work will be floated with a 1” border around it.
Shippings & Returns
Unframed work ships within 5 business days of your order. Framed artwork is custom framed once it is ordered. Please allow 2-4 weeks for framing and delivery. Need it faster? Expedited options may be available by emailing help@exhibitiona.com. All work ships from the US. International customers are responsible for any customs, duty, or VAT charges.
If you change your mind after placing your order, please email us at help@exhibitiona.com within 24 hours. We will not be able to accommodate cancellations for framed orders after that time period (as your frame will have been ordered and cut within that time period). We may not be able to accommodate your request to cancel your order for an unframed work after 24 hours if it has been packaged and processed by our fulfillment center.
We are unable to accept returns on custom framed artwork. Our general policy is that we do not accept returns. If your print arrives damaged or does not meet your expectations, you may be eligible for a replacement or return. Any issues must be reported within 5 business days of receipt by emailing help@exhibitiona.com.
