Art Deco Influence

My art, and the Concentric Circles Series in particular, draws alot of influence from Art Deco architecture, design and painitng styles.

Aware of Art Deco and Cubism for some time, my exposure to the art styles expanded through my study of the inter-connectivity of Twentieth Century fashion, art and photography in my research projects at Univeristy of Missouri in the late 1990's.

My final paper looked at the century in a decade by decade view of the topical design directions in each form of expression, and the growing inter-dependence and stylistic influences on the commercialization of apparel through advertising.

Drawn to the Art Deco period in particular in my study, it appeared to me to be the nexus point where the three design are media of fashion, art and photography trully became interactive in shaping cultural and design ideas and inspiration.

Museum visits that have conitnued to expanded my appreciation for this style have included the "Fashion and Cubism" exhibit at the Costume Insitute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 199 and the Victoria and Albert Museum's major Art Deco retrospective in 2003.

This study, and the mood and direction of Art Deco continue to influence my work. With it's inception in 1997 with the creation of "CHiPS", the Concentric Circles series at first started with wide circular arcs, and finally found it's voice with Compostion #2of 2000, where the circles met intersection, underpainting and Moffa's acrylic dematerialization wash techniques in vivid color.

Composition #2 by Michael Moffa w/o border
at emporiomoffa

The greatest influence on the series has since been the works of Robert and Sonia Delaunay. Exposed to Robert Delaunay's "Homage to Bleriot" of 1914 in my research at University of Missouri. I later had chance to view additional works by the artist at the Centre Georges Pompidou and Musee des Arts Modern de la Ville de Paris, and a major exhibition "Robert and Sonia Delaunay (1905-1941)" at the Museo Thyssen-Bournemisza in 2003.

The vibrant colors and circular forms of the Delaunay's have become not only appealing, but inspiring, and combine with my knowledge of Art Deco circular forms and architectural drafting experience to create intricate geometrical designs and patterns.

The series has continued to grow in expression from simple circular rings of color to intersecting lines, arcs and colorfields incorporating a variety of techniques including underpainting, overpainting and dematerialization washes.

Concentric Circles Origins

"CHiPs" by Michael Moffa c1997
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The progenitor of the Concentric Circles Series, "CHiPs" was painted during an all-night flash of creative inspiration while watching back to back episodes of the late 1970's/early 1980's television show by the same name.

Symbols of the hot Southern California sunshine, refreshing oranges and cool Pacific waters emerged from the drafted abstract composition.

This larger size work was stretched, gessoed and painted overnight to add a little something extra to my somewhat spartan but otherwise comfortable off-campus apartment at Univerity of Missouri.

I was having friends over the next night and wanted to show off a new creation.

I later rolled the canvas up and brought it home to Philadelphia with me, restretched it and it hung in the office of a retail store I managed for a few years. "CHiPs" is now in the private collection of a dear friend.

Mauritia "Discovered"

Mauritia by Michael Moffa
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"Mauritia" selected by Zazzle editors for their Today's Best Artist Gallery on the zazzle.com websites front page. The Zazzle platform allows me to share, market and sell artowrks that may otherwise go unseen.

Created in 1993, the original mixed-media piece remained forgotten in storage until just last year when I "discovered" it while organizing the basement. Now it is posted for sale as prints on paper and canvas for all to enjoy!