Michael Sayles

Michael Sayles’ large format graphite drawings display passion for precision–perfect lines rendering form, which is then heightened by severe contrast. The use of black and white, light and dark evince an influence, and tension with, the late American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Throughout his practice, Sayles has focused on themes identity and self-representation–in one series seamlessly incorporating S&M paraphernalia into images of tribal Malian artifacts of the Dogon pantheon.

Sayles’ work has been included in exhibitions at xavierlaboulbenne in Berlin, Daimler Contemporary in Berlin, and Art International Istanbul.

Courtesy of xavierlaboulbenne