Born in Beloit, Wisconsin, Michael Story was encouraged to draw in his childhood. His family relocated to South Carolina where Story earned his BFA in Fine Art from the University of South Carolina in 1975. He later traveled to New York, studying oil and pastel painting under internationally known artist, Daniel Greene.
Michael Story is an award-winning artist and member of Oil Painters of America, Pastel Society of America, Southeastern Pastel Society, North and South Carolina Pastel Societies, National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society and the Allied Artists of America. He guest lectures, juries art shows and regularly teaches oil, acrylic and pastel painting throughout the United States. Story has conducted workshops at such prestigious art centers as Huntsville Museum of Art in Huntsville, AL, Hudson River Valley Art Workshops in Greenville, NY,John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, Winslow Art Center in Bainbridge Island, WA, Art of the Carolina’s in Raleigh, NC, Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, WI and Crealde School of Art in Winter Park, FL. Students also travel from around the country to attend his regular 2-day painting classes in his Lexington, SC studio. Story has work showcased in the Bush Presidential Library in Houston Texas, and his paintings have been reproduced by major publishers such as Canadian Art Prints of British Columbia and distributed worldwide.
His client list of private buyers and corporate collectors continues to grow, including Walt Disney World, Marriott Corporation, Progressive Energy of Florida, South State Bank, Palmetto Health Richland and Palmetto Health Baptist, The Cloister at Sea Island, Newberry Opera House, Richland Heart Hospital, First Citizens Bank, Providence Health Columbia, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, Fluor Corporation in Erving Texas, Lexington Medical Center, Holiday Inn, Nephron Pharmaceuticals, and Hood Construction.
Art and music are rooted in my family history. My great uncle and grandmother were jazz musicians and my grandfather, who was a professional artist, was my first teacher. From a very young age, I knew that I only wanted to be an artist so I feel fortunate to have always been encouraged by my family to follow that dream.
Having lived in the south most of my adult life, I’ve often found inspiration for my art by traveling the coastal waterways and interior vistas stretching from North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. I love exploring the interconnections where land and water meet. People want to be near water, both real and imagined, as it exudes a calm that seems magical. In the studio, I’ve discovered that sense of calm often transcends the painting process when water is incorporated into the composition.
2024 March 2024 March 2024 April 2024 |
April 2024 June 2024 June 2024 |
2023 The National Oil & Acrylic |
2022 "Fund the Fight" Artfields |
2021 Carolina Foundation The Elk River Club |
2020 "Fund the Fight" |
2019 South Carolina State Fair Lexington Medical Center |
2018 South Carolina State Fair Lexington Medical Center |
2017 Carolina Foundation South Carolina State Fair |
2016 52 Windows Elite Framing |
2015 Carolina Foundation Art Auction |
2014 Carolina Foundation |
2013 McKissick Museum's South Carolina Foundation Art Auction Artfields Sandhills School |
2012 Figure 8 Island Yacht Club McKissick Museum's South Carolina Arts Foundation EdStrava Ganza Edventure |
2011 McKissick Museum's Columbia Open South Carolina Arts Foundation |
2010 South Carolina Arts Foundation McKissick Museum's |
2009 Art With a Heart McKissick Museum's |
2008 South Carolina Arts Foundation McKissick Museum's |
2007 South Carolina Arts Foundation McKissick Museum's |
2006 South Carolina Arts Foundation The Summit Club |
2005 South Carolina Arts Foundation |
2004 Piccolo Spoleto AIDS Benefit Foundation of SC Richland / Lexington County |
2003 South Carolina Arts Foundation AIDS Benefit Foundation of SC |
2002 Irene Morrah Fine Art Newberry Opera House South Carolina Arts Foundation |
2001 South Carolina Arts Foundation |
2000 Whiteford School of the Arts Exhibition South Carolina Arts Foundation |
1999 South Carolina Arts Foundation |
1998 Art in the Home Show South Carolina State Fair Winter Park Art Festival Art Expo |
1997 The Cultural Council Fine Art Center of I Pinckney Simons Gallery |
1996 JB White Community Artist Exhibition South Carolina State Fair Cameo Art Gallery 1996 Mid-Carolina Automotive Show Piccolo Spoleto I Pinckney Simons Gallery |
1995 South Carolina State Fair South Carolina Festival of Flowers Piccolo Spoleto University of South Carolina |
1994 28th Annual Festival of Flowers Southeastern Art & Craft Exposition Charleston Maritime Festival Juried Show Piccolo Spoleto Pastel Society of North Florida Watercolor Society of Alabama Hilton Head Art League |
1993 Springs Industries Juried Show New England Fine Art Institute |
1992 Pastel Society of North Florida |
BB&T Bank Bush Presidential Library Carolina First Columbia Heart Clinic First Citizens Bank Fluor Corporation Holiday Inn Hood Construction Lexington Medical Center Marriott Corporation McLeod Medical Center |
Midlands Orthopaedics Nations Bank Nephron Pharmaceuticals Newberry Opera House Palmetto Health Baptist Palmetto Health Richland Palmetto Health Richland Progressive Energy of Florida Providence Heart Institute Providence Hospital |
Security Federal Columbia, SC South Carolina Bank and Trust Columbia, SC Southern First Bank Columbia, SC The Cloister at Sea Island Sea Island, GA The Sanctuary Kiawah Island, SC Trident Regional Medical Center Charleston, SC Wachovia Bank Columbia, SC Walt Disney World Orlando, FL Webster Rodgers, LLC. Florence, SC |
1994 Addy Award / Citation of Merit
1994 Addy Award / Citation of Merit
1992 Addy Award / Gold Addy
1992 Addy Award / Gold Addy
1992 PICA Award / Special Judges Award
1992 Carolinas Association of Business / Communicators Award
1990 Carolinas Association of Business / Communicators Award
1990 Addy Award / Silver Addy
1990 Addy Award / Gold Addy
1989 Pica Award / Award of Excellence
1988 Strathmore Graphics Gallery / Certificate of Merit Award
1987 Addy Award / Bronze Addy
1980 Addy Award / Certificate of Merit
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michaelstoryartist@gmail.com •
803-356-4268