Michel Delgado

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Michel Delgado

For Michel Delgado, art is more than a practice—it is a way of life. Born in Dakar, Senegal, Delgado grew up in an environment where creativity and daily existence were inseparable. He discovered early on that painting was his most honest means of connecting with his inner self, a tool for personal liberation and spiritual growth. A self-taught artist, Delgado’s work is characterized by vibrant colors, bold shapes, and meticulous detail. His straightforward narratives draw from personal memories, spiritual curiosity, and the cultural energy of his West African roots. Free from metaphor or irony, Delgado’s paintings invite viewers into a direct conversation with the stories they tell, emphasizing emotional authenticity over technical convention. Delgado’s creative philosophy is deeply influenced by the improvisational spirit of his upbringing, where art emerged from necessity and ingenuity. His work evokes a sense of surprise and openness, tethering the mystical to the everyday. Through his art, Delgado continues to explore universal themes of purpose, connection, and wonder, creating pieces that resonate with both heart and mind.  

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SELECTED EXHIBITIONS / SOLO SHOWS 
2020
  - ART BRUT, Leslie Curran Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
  - Soul Works, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
  - Black Creativity, Museum of Science + Industry, Chicago, IL
2019
  - *Solid Uncertainty, The Studios of Key West Sanger Gallery, Key West, FL
2018
  - Centerline Exhibition, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
  - Offset Realities, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
2017
  - The Gum Spotting Experience Installation Exhibit, Philadelphia International Airport, PA
2016
  - Romantic Rebel, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015
  - Listen Quietly, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
2014
  - Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
  - Red Dot, Art Basel, Miami, FL
2013
  - Fearless, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
2012
  - Coconut Grove Fine Art Festival, Miami, FL
  - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art, Philadelphia, PA
  - Cherry Creek Art Festival, Denver, CO
  - Sun Valley Art Festival, Sun Valley, ID
  - Solo Exhibition at The Kentucky Art Museum, Birmingham, AL
2011
  - *Prescription, Solo Show, Ybor City School of Visual & Performing Arts Gallery, Tampa, FL
  - Gasparilla Fine Arts Festival, Tampa, FL
  - The Artist’s Project, New York City, NY
  - Strange Seduction, Group Show, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Cherry Creek Fine Arts Festival, Denver, CO
  - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art, Philadelphia, PA
  - Kansas City Fine Arts Festival, Kansas City, Kansas
  - Saint Louis Art Fair, Saint Louis, MO
  - Contemporary Art Fair at the Javits Center, New York, NY
2010
  - Bruce Museum of Fine Art, Greenwich, CT
  - Lucky Street Gallery Group Show, Key West, FL
  - *Studio of Key West- Solo Exhibition, Key West, FL
  - Saint Louis Art Fair, Saint Louis, MO
  - Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
  - Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO
2009
  - Kentucky Festival of the Arts- For Outsider and Visionary Art, Tuscaloosa, AL
  - The Boardwalk Art Show Contemporary Art Center, Virginia Beach, VA
  - Saint Louis Art Fair, Featured Artist for Festival T-shirt, Saint Louis, MO
2008
  - Gasparilla Festival of Arts, Tampa, FL
  - Washington D.C. International Art Expo, Washington D.C
  - *Gum Art Series, Solo Show, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2007
  - King Kong of Modern Art, group show, Paradeisos Center, Art Basel, Miami, FL
  - Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition (juried), Palm Beach, FL
  - Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa, FL
2006
  - Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition (juried), Palm Beach, FL
  - The Good Seed, solo exhibit, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2005
  - Terrors of the Soul, an outdoor assemblage, Key West, FL
  - Second Annual Human Form Show, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2004
  - Miami Art Museum, curated by Lori Mertes, Curator, Miami, FL
  - Sweet Venom. Solo exhibit, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2003
  - The Ground We Walk On. Group exhibit, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Without Boundaries, World Arts Festival, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
  - Zora Neale Fine Art Show (juried), Orlando, FL
  - Old Island Days Fine Art Show (juried), Key West, FL
2002
  - Cardboard Return, Group exhibit, 213 Commercial Street Gallery, Provincetown, MA
  - City Hall Annual Art Exhibition, Hollywood, FL
  - Dreams, Drama, Desire, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Erotica, Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
2001
  - The Woodstock Fine Art Exhibit (juried), Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  - Erotica, Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
2000 
  - The Shrine, Blue Heaven, Key West, FL
  - Michel Delgado, solo exhibit, Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
1999
  - Featured artist at Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
1998
  - Featured artist at Lenny Gallery, Key West, FL
1997
  - Featured artist at Hambridge Center Gallery, GA

PROJECTS, INSTALLATIONS, & RESIDENCIES
2014
  - Select Artist in a television film series, Empire, Fox Television Network
  - Kickstarter project fully funded, Gum Art Experience
2009
  - Painting Selected for National Branding of St. Louis Art Festival, St. Louis, MO
2006
  - Installation for main stage for Key West Literary Seminar, Key West, FL
  - Art selected for poster for Island Festival, Key West, FL
  - Film, “The Making of ‘Terrors of the Soul’”
2005
  - Terrors of the Soul, an outdoor assemblage, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Bahama Village Preschool, volunteer art teacher, Key West, FL
  - Cover Design, Key West Literary Seminar Brochure, Key West, FL
2006-2004
  - Teen Focus Foundation, volunteer at and art donor for fundraising activities, Key West, FL
2004
  - Cover Design, Key West Symphony Orchestra 2004-2005 Season Brochure, Key West, FL
  - Children’s Art Program, donor & volunteer at Montessori Elementary School, Key West, FL
2003
  - Artist-in-Residence, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
 
PRIVATE & MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
  - Joseph and Janet Shein Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - The Tillou Contemporary Collection, Litchfield, Connecticut
  - Lisa and Jeffrey Visotsky Collection, Chicago, Illinois
  - Ted Titus Collection, Ormond Beach, Florida
  - John and Jacqueline Lowell Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - Bob Bowersox Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - Gail Freeman Contemporary Collection, West Palm Beach, Florida
  - Alvaro and Sandra Lopez Collection, Rockville, Maryland
  - David Markin Collection, Trustee, New York Museum of African Art, New York City, New York
  - Gaurichon Collection, International Art Brut Foundation, Paris, France
  - Luzuriaga Collection, Jupiter Realty Corporation, Charleston, South Carolina
  - Paul and Edna Goodman Collection, Chicago, Illinois
  - Mike and Holly Wheeler Collection, Denver, Colorado
  - Alan Nathan and Sedra
  - Plainsart Museum, North Dakota
  - American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
  - Neal Ganem, Atlanta, GA
  - James Sickling, St. Petersburg, FL
  - Dennis & Karen Bookshester, Chicago, IL
  - Thomas McGrath, Miami, FL
  - Evan Longoria, St. Petersburg, FL
  - Betsy Madorsky, Boca Raton, FL
 
AWARDS & HONORS 
2020
  - *Visual and Media Arts Fellowship Award, South Florida Cultural Consortium
2019
  - *Best of Show, Mainsail Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
2018
  - *Joan Mitchell Grant Recipient
2016
  - *Best of Show, Mainsail Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Boca Museum of Fine Art, Boca Raton, FL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
2015
  - *Best of Show, Mainsail Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
2014
  - *2nd place in mixed media, Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
  - Merit Award, Gasparilla Art Festival, Tampa, FL
2013
  - Jury Award (Sharry Brown), St. Louis Fine Art Show, St Louis, MO
  - Juror for Artist and Residence at Studios of Key West, Key West, FL
  - *2nd place in mixed media, Beaux Art Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
2012
  - *1st place in mixed media, Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
  - *Best of Show, Sun Fest Art Festival, West Palm Beach, FL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Fountain Square Art Festival, Chicago, IL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Sun Valley Art Festival, Sun Valley, ID
2011
  - *Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, 2nd place in mixed media, Miami FL
  - *Melbourne Arts Festival, 1st place in Mixed Media, Melbourne, FL
2010
  - *The Bruce Museum of Fine Art, 1st place in Painting
  - *Images - A Festival of the Arts, Award of Honor
2009
  - Kentucky Festival of the Arts, Patron Award
  - *Best of Show, Silver Saint Stephen’s Fine Art Show, Coconut Grove, FL
2008
  - *Publication of book Michel Delgado : Visionary Artist.
  - *Best of Show, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Award of Merit, Ocala Fine Art Show, Ocala, FL
2007
  - *Best in Show, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Award of Merit, Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa, FL
  - *Featured Artist, Florida International Magazine, Annual Fall Art Issue.
2006
  - *First Place, Two-Dimensional Work, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Featured Artist, Florida International Magazine, Annual Fall Art Issue.
  - *Installation for center stage for Key West Literary Seminar (juried), Key West, FL
2005
  - *Award of Merit, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Artist to Watch, Florida International Magazine, Annual Fall Art Issue.
  - *Cover Design (juried), Key West Literary Seminar Brochure, Key West, FL
2004
  - *Cover Design (juried), Key West Symphony Orchestra Season Brochure, Key West, FL
  - *Visual and Media Artists Fellowship Award, South Florida Cultural Consortium.
2003
  - *Zora Neal Hurston Award of Excellence, Zora Neale Fine Art Show, Orlando, FL
  - *Featured Visual Arts Artist Award, World Arts Festival, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
2002
  - *Award of Merit, Promenade in the Park, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2001
  - *Award of Excellence, the Woodstock Fine Art Exhibit, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1992
  - *Graphic Design Apprenticeship Award, French Council of the Arts, Paris
1991
  - *Ceramics Apprenticeship Award, French Council of the Arts, Paris
 
 

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Michel Delgado

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS / SOLO SHOWS 
2020
  - ART BRUT, Leslie Curran Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
  - Soul Works, Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL
  - Black Creativity, Museum of Science + Industry, Chicago, IL
2019
  - *Solid Uncertainty, The Studios of Key West Sanger Gallery, Key West, FL
2018
  - Centerline Exhibition, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
  - Offset Realities, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
2017
  - The Gum Spotting Experience Installation Exhibit, Philadelphia International Airport, PA
2016
  - Romantic Rebel, Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2015
  - Listen Quietly, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
2014
  - Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, Philadelphia, PA
  - Red Dot, Art Basel, Miami, FL
2013
  - Fearless, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
2012
  - Coconut Grove Fine Art Festival, Miami, FL
  - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art, Philadelphia, PA
  - Cherry Creek Art Festival, Denver, CO
  - Sun Valley Art Festival, Sun Valley, ID
  - Solo Exhibition at The Kentucky Art Museum, Birmingham, AL
2011
  - *Prescription, Solo Show, Ybor City School of Visual & Performing Arts Gallery, Tampa, FL
  - Gasparilla Fine Arts Festival, Tampa, FL
  - The Artist’s Project, New York City, NY
  - Strange Seduction, Group Show, Lucky Street Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Cherry Creek Fine Arts Festival, Denver, CO
  - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art, Philadelphia, PA
  - Kansas City Fine Arts Festival, Kansas City, Kansas
  - Saint Louis Art Fair, Saint Louis, MO
  - Contemporary Art Fair at the Javits Center, New York, NY
2010
  - Bruce Museum of Fine Art, Greenwich, CT
  - Lucky Street Gallery Group Show, Key West, FL
  - *Studio of Key West- Solo Exhibition, Key West, FL
  - Saint Louis Art Fair, Saint Louis, MO
  - Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
  - Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Denver, CO
2009
  - Kentucky Festival of the Arts- For Outsider and Visionary Art, Tuscaloosa, AL
  - The Boardwalk Art Show Contemporary Art Center, Virginia Beach, VA
  - Saint Louis Art Fair, Featured Artist for Festival T-shirt, Saint Louis, MO
2008
  - Gasparilla Festival of Arts, Tampa, FL
  - Washington D.C. International Art Expo, Washington D.C
  - *Gum Art Series, Solo Show, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2007
  - King Kong of Modern Art, group show, Paradeisos Center, Art Basel, Miami, FL
  - Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition (juried), Palm Beach, FL
  - Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa, FL
2006
  - Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition (juried), Palm Beach, FL
  - The Good Seed, solo exhibit, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2005
  - Terrors of the Soul, an outdoor assemblage, Key West, FL
  - Second Annual Human Form Show, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2004
  - Miami Art Museum, curated by Lori Mertes, Curator, Miami, FL
  - Sweet Venom. Solo exhibit, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
2003
  - The Ground We Walk On. Group exhibit, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Without Boundaries, World Arts Festival, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
  - Zora Neale Fine Art Show (juried), Orlando, FL
  - Old Island Days Fine Art Show (juried), Key West, FL
2002
  - Cardboard Return, Group exhibit, 213 Commercial Street Gallery, Provincetown, MA
  - City Hall Annual Art Exhibition, Hollywood, FL
  - Dreams, Drama, Desire, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Erotica, Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
2001
  - The Woodstock Fine Art Exhibit (juried), Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  - Erotica, Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
2000 
  - The Shrine, Blue Heaven, Key West, FL
  - Michel Delgado, solo exhibit, Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
1999
  - Featured artist at Woodenhead Gallery, Key West, FL
1998
  - Featured artist at Lenny Gallery, Key West, FL
1997
  - Featured artist at Hambridge Center Gallery, GA

PROJECTS, INSTALLATIONS, & RESIDENCIES
2014
  - Select Artist in a television film series, Empire, Fox Television Network
  - Kickstarter project fully funded, Gum Art Experience
2009
  - Painting Selected for National Branding of St. Louis Art Festival, St. Louis, MO
2006
  - Installation for main stage for Key West Literary Seminar, Key West, FL
  - Art selected for poster for Island Festival, Key West, FL
  - Film, “The Making of ‘Terrors of the Soul’”
2005
  - Terrors of the Soul, an outdoor assemblage, Kent Gallery, Key West, FL
  - Bahama Village Preschool, volunteer art teacher, Key West, FL
  - Cover Design, Key West Literary Seminar Brochure, Key West, FL
2006-2004
  - Teen Focus Foundation, volunteer at and art donor for fundraising activities, Key West, FL
2004
  - Cover Design, Key West Symphony Orchestra 2004-2005 Season Brochure, Key West, FL
  - Children’s Art Program, donor & volunteer at Montessori Elementary School, Key West, FL
2003
  - Artist-in-Residence, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
 
PRIVATE & MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
  - Joseph and Janet Shein Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - The Tillou Contemporary Collection, Litchfield, Connecticut
  - Lisa and Jeffrey Visotsky Collection, Chicago, Illinois
  - Ted Titus Collection, Ormond Beach, Florida
  - John and Jacqueline Lowell Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - Bob Bowersox Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - Gail Freeman Contemporary Collection, West Palm Beach, Florida
  - Alvaro and Sandra Lopez Collection, Rockville, Maryland
  - David Markin Collection, Trustee, New York Museum of African Art, New York City, New York
  - Gaurichon Collection, International Art Brut Foundation, Paris, France
  - Luzuriaga Collection, Jupiter Realty Corporation, Charleston, South Carolina
  - Paul and Edna Goodman Collection, Chicago, Illinois
  - Mike and Holly Wheeler Collection, Denver, Colorado
  - Alan Nathan and Sedra
  - Plainsart Museum, North Dakota
  - American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
  - Neal Ganem, Atlanta, GA
  - James Sickling, St. Petersburg, FL
  - Dennis & Karen Bookshester, Chicago, IL
  - Thomas McGrath, Miami, FL
  - Evan Longoria, St. Petersburg, FL
  - Betsy Madorsky, Boca Raton, FL
 
AWARDS & HONORS 
2020
  - *Visual and Media Arts Fellowship Award, South Florida Cultural Consortium
2019
  - *Best of Show, Mainsail Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
2018
  - *Joan Mitchell Grant Recipient
2016
  - *Best of Show, Mainsail Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Boca Museum of Fine Art, Boca Raton, FL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
2015
  - *Best of Show, Mainsail Art Festival, St. Petersburg, FL
2014
  - *2nd place in mixed media, Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
  - Merit Award, Gasparilla Art Festival, Tampa, FL
2013
  - Jury Award (Sharry Brown), St. Louis Fine Art Show, St Louis, MO
  - Juror for Artist and Residence at Studios of Key West, Key West, FL
  - *2nd place in mixed media, Beaux Art Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
2012
  - *1st place in mixed media, Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, Miami, FL
  - *Best of Show, Sun Fest Art Festival, West Palm Beach, FL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Fountain Square Art Festival, Chicago, IL
  - *1st place in mixed media, Sun Valley Art Festival, Sun Valley, ID
2011
  - *Beaux Arts Festival of Miami, 2nd place in mixed media, Miami FL
  - *Melbourne Arts Festival, 1st place in Mixed Media, Melbourne, FL
2010
  - *The Bruce Museum of Fine Art, 1st place in Painting
  - *Images - A Festival of the Arts, Award of Honor
2009
  - Kentucky Festival of the Arts, Patron Award
  - *Best of Show, Silver Saint Stephen’s Fine Art Show, Coconut Grove, FL
2008
  - *Publication of book Michel Delgado : Visionary Artist.
  - *Best of Show, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Award of Merit, Ocala Fine Art Show, Ocala, FL
2007
  - *Best in Show, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Award of Merit, Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa, FL
  - *Featured Artist, Florida International Magazine, Annual Fall Art Issue.
2006
  - *First Place, Two-Dimensional Work, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Featured Artist, Florida International Magazine, Annual Fall Art Issue.
  - *Installation for center stage for Key West Literary Seminar (juried), Key West, FL
2005
  - *Award of Merit, Sun Fest Fine Art Exhibition, Palm Beach, FL
  - *Artist to Watch, Florida International Magazine, Annual Fall Art Issue.
  - *Cover Design (juried), Key West Literary Seminar Brochure, Key West, FL
2004
  - *Cover Design (juried), Key West Symphony Orchestra Season Brochure, Key West, FL
  - *Visual and Media Artists Fellowship Award, South Florida Cultural Consortium.
2003
  - *Zora Neal Hurston Award of Excellence, Zora Neale Fine Art Show, Orlando, FL
  - *Featured Visual Arts Artist Award, World Arts Festival, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
2002
  - *Award of Merit, Promenade in the Park, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2001
  - *Award of Excellence, the Woodstock Fine Art Exhibit, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1992
  - *Graphic Design Apprenticeship Award, French Council of the Arts, Paris
1991
  - *Ceramics Apprenticeship Award, French Council of the Arts, Paris
 
 

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Chandler Art Gallery

2639 Colquitt St. | Houston, TX 77098

 

www.chandlerartgallery.com

CHANDLER ART POP UP GALLERY

SOLARIS RESIDENCES

141 E. MEADOW DR., SUITE 208

VAIL, CO 81657

 

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Chandler Art Gallery

2639 Colquitt St.

Houston, TX 77098

281.772.5333

 


 

CHANDLER ART POP UP GALLERY

SOLARIS RESIDENCES

141 E. MEADOW DR., SUITE 208

VAIL, CO 81657

 

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