Michael Leavitt

PUBLICATION- books; DIY cardboard shoe prints; articles/interviews, podcast

Mike — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:11:22 +0000

“Toy Design” is a fabulous and comprehensive survey of historical breadth. Published by a notorious architecture publisher from Germany, the book is focused on the wide variety of toy design itself, not just the products. “The Art Army” is honored to be included with a fantastic spread. Edited by Chris van Uffelen, published by Braun Publishing.
“Toy Design” for sale on Amazon
“Toy Design” on the Braun Publishing website

Fortunately for my own interests in non-conformity, my first official prints are not your run-of-the-mill art print.
These ‘prints’ are patterns I generated from scratch, from which I’ve build my cardboard Chuck Taylor and Air Jordan IV. This is everything needed to complete these two iconic shoes, available as an actual-size cardboard print. The exact pattern is printed on natural brown cardboard so the print itself can be cut and assembled into an actual shoe. Send purchase inquiries via the message form at the bottom of this page. I’ve only got a few left available to sell! When an online form becomes available to purchase the print directly, a link will be posted here ASAP.

Considering extenuating circumstances, it may also be possible to receive a free full-size download of this template to construct the cardboard shoe for free. Please send special requests with the message form at the bottom of this page.

3 new beautiful hardback books are surveys that include my work…Scott gave our collaboration piece an amazing spread in his brand new and absolutely beautiful book- The Late Fauna of Early North America: The Art of Scott MusgroveTwo books are being published on the wealth of art produced both officially and unofficially for the Obama campaign. Most of mine was of the UNofficial ilk, and I have work published in both of these books.
Art for Obama: Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign for Change and Designing Obama

A couple press clippings:

Palm Springs’ Desert Sun did a lil diddy on the ‘Real Love’ M Modern show

From the esteemed gentlemen of the Jailbreak Collective of Obama action figure fame, an extended exclusive interview

Laura Cassidy of Seattle Metropolitan Magazine took an interest beyond her field of fashion, and once again the editorial staff of the notoriously cheesy and tourist-oriented local magazines (Seattle Magazine, Seattle Bride and Seattle Metropolitan) have looked beyond their normal subject matter to the obscure eccentricity of my art. Once again I’m genuinely grateful and shocked at the same time. These folks have now published my work much more than any other print or press, even the ones much more directly related to my work. Laura Cassidy’s interview: “Shoes Not Made for Walking”

The folks at ObsessiveSneakerDisorder contacted me just before the cardboard shoe opening in NYC to participate in a live online phone chat full of people obsessed with shoes. I definitely expected a different sort of questioning. I ended up getting some very interesting questions mostly surrounding art, life, and creative motivation. I swear I always get smarter conversations with NON-art people. The podcast is pretty long. I come in about 33 minutes after the start, and am on for about 20 minutes-
MARCH 18 2009 OSD conversation
obsessivesneakerdisorder.com

SCULPTURE- collab’s w/ C.Mudede, S.Musgrove, C.Krafft; ‘Real Life’ board game

Mike — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:50:54 +0000

Size: 44″ x 24″ x 20″
Materials: hardwood vintage TV renovated to house digital projector

A collaboration with the esteemed Associate Editor of The Stranger, Charles Mudede, this project will be seen in person this Fall 2010 at Barcelona’s Manifesta 8 festival. Designed to ’set the stage’ for Charles’ presentation on 70’s-era politics as framed by the classic ‘Good Times’ television show, this set piece will enclose a digital projector to show a live documentary. I’ve always been a fan of Charles’ work for the paper, but from the few times we’ve met while executing this project, I’ve grown to admire and enjoy him personally even more. Quite an honor to be included in this project.

Size: 6″ x 2″ x 4″
Materials: hand-carved cedar & plastic, oak, brass screws, steel reinforcementAnother collaboration with a good friend and amazing artist. To show at Musgrove’s FANTASTIC (which i can attest.. i’ve seen the new work in person… it’s astounding) upcoming exhibit opening in New York May 15, 2010 at Jonathan Levine Gallery.

Size: each roughly 12″ x 8″ x 6″
Materials: hand-cast ceramic, hand-painted Delft technique glazing
These newest editions of my “Pitchfork Pals” collaborations with Charlie Krafft are part of our ongoing series in preparation for our big 2010 show at London’s Stolen Space gallery. The tea pots are also currently available for sale on this site. Click the images below and follow the links the respective PayPal purchase forms.

Size: game board 20″ x 20″, packaging box 20″ x 10″ x 1.5″ overall
Materials: photo prints, heavy cardstock, cast resin, chip board
After months of research, sketching, graphic design, and meticulously tiny sculpting and drawing, my first board game is ready. I’m assembling 20 sets by hand as the first editions. Purchase forms and all other specifics are here- VITA VERA (REAL LIFE) board game

CUSTOM WORK- outdoor public project, cake toppers, custom figures

Mike — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:21:27 +0000

Size: 7 feet tall
Materials: Hardcoat fiberglass outdoor statue to be installed permanently in heart of Bavarian-themed city’s downtown core.

Authentic Bavarian nutcracker debuting as new town mascot, commission by The City of Leavenworth, WA. Currently in design phase as of Summer 2010, progress of design sketches depicted via image link below.

NEW CUSTOM, PERSONALIZED CAKE TOPPERS below, each with separate non-posable figures. Some “cake topper” commissions are not of a bride & groom at all, just plain loved ones. Each built with polymer clay and internal steel wire armatures. More details on each particular figure by clicking the picture link.

Harold and Maude 2- 6″ x 6″ x 6″

Bert and Ernie- 4″ x 2″ x 1″

Ratangon- 6″ x 4″ x 3″

Jeremy Brautman & Greta- 5″ x 3″ x 2.5″

Craig & Katherine- 3″ x 3″ x 2″

Gil & Rachel- 5″ x 3″ x 2″

Size: 8″ x 2.5″ x 1″
Materials: 20 posable pieces in polymer clay, internal styrofoam armatures, steel wire
Despite all appearances, this guy’s name is NOT “TED”, nor is he necessarily a photographer by trade. This is Chris Anderson, founder & curator of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference. This piece was designed to travel around the world as part of a photographic tour. Kind of a post-modern garden gnome project, with photos of the figure as the “photographer” himself. the conference website- TED.com

Size: 9″ x 7″ x 8″
Materials: polymer clay, internal styrofoam

TWO non-posable custom figures
Each roughly: 4″ x 2″ x 1.5″
Materials: polymer clay, internal armature, steel wire

PAINTINGS/DRAWINGS- suicidal celebrity towels, toilet seats; wood slabs; sketches

Mike — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:47:36 +0000

Size: each 54″ x 30″
Materials: each hand-stitched & quilted terry cloth bath towel

Size: each 15″ x 20″ x 2″
Materials: acrylic hand-painted on fully functional new toilet seats

Size: 2″ x 3″ each
Materials: Prismacolor marker on cardstock trading cards
These are many of my recent Sketch Cards officially included as random inserts in Topps’s Star Wars Galaxy trading card sets. The set of Ewok’s, Chewy’s, and Wampa’s (the “furry munchkin crew”) are part of the new 2010 Galaxy 5 set. I did 56 “furry munchkins” for Galaxy 5. Many improvements were made to be drawings and the drawing process from my Galaxy 4 set for two reasons- 1) I didn’t have as many cards to work with on Galaxy 5 so I put more time into each one, and 2) I learned from my own mistakes and by watching what other artists have been doing with their own sketch cards series.

Size: 8″ x 9″ x 1″
Materials: Prismacolor marker, acrylic paint, cut wood panel

Size: 4″ x 4″ x 1″
Materials: Prismacolor marker, acrylic paint, cut wood panel

Size: 7″ x 7″ x 2″
Materials: acrylic, found wood panel

Size: 2″ x 3″ x 0.5″ each
Materials: acrylic print, found cigarette box

Size: 8″ x 10″ each
Materials: Prismacolor marker on paper

ACTION FIGURES- Banksy, Crumb, Hirst, D.Byrne, R.English, B.Cosby

Mike — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Size: 11inches tall
Articulating parts: 23
Materials: polymer clay, internal hand-carved sytrofoam, internal steel armatures, wood and mixed media background

Size: 40inches tall
Articulating parts: 28
Materials: hand-carved cedar, resin coating, enamel finish, steel springs, elastic cords, neoprine washers, brass screws
This was a massive custom commission project, perhaps the biggest I’ve ever done. More details by clicking the picture link.

Size: 11inches tall
Articulating parts: 24
Materials: polymer clay, internal hand-carved sytrofoam, internal steel armatures, wood and acrylic frame/background

Size: 11inches tall
Articulating parts: 15
Materials: polymer clay, internal hand-carved sytrofoam, wood/plastic TV
As our politics and leadership changes for the better, The Art Army is unofficially drawing down its troops. Action figures will still be made, yet many other exciting projects are filling my time. Any chance I get, I’ll be doing the figures of people I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet executed. David Byrne has always been a personal hero and long-overdue addition to the Art Army’s ranks.

Size: 11inches tall
Articulating parts: 15
Materials: polymer clay, internal hand-carved sytrofoam, mixed media
w/removable paint can, AK-47 paint gun, red clown nose, Mickey army hat, and Mickey D’s background

Size: 7inches tall
Articulating parts: 13
Materials: polymer clay, internal hand-carved sytrofoam, internal steel armatures, wood stairs