From the very beginning, Mickey Strivelli has been driven by a fascination with the unseen. Not just the inner mechanics of a broken piano, but the hidden energy, vibrations, and rhythms that connect us all. His work is an act of reimagining this invisible world, using art as a way to make the intangible tangible and to show how a shift in perspective can change our minds.
The Full Story (TLDR)
Mickey Strivelli's lifelong journey as an artist began in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was captivated by the inner workings of things. As a child, he spent countless hours disassembling discarded electronics and appliances, seeing not junk, but a hidden world of parts and possibilities. He even created his first sculptures from the humble twist-ties of trash bags. This early curiosity about deconstruction and form set the stage for a creative philosophy that continues to evolve today.
While at Florida State University, Mickey studied philosophy, but his artistic impulses were too strong to ignore, and after showing in several galleries, Mickey moved into sculpture under the tutelage of Charles Hook. During this time, Mickey joined the Tallahassee Artists Guild for over two decades, where his focus shifted to large-scale, interactive metal sculptures and machines that engaged observers with the very sounds they produced. This early work was a first step in making the invisible nature of sound and vibration visible. After college, Mickey pursued a career in digital art and design.
In 2007, he took a leap of faith, leaving his day job to open Spot at the Square, a gallery and glassblowing school in Tallahassee’s vibrant Railroad Square Art District. He later expanded this venture to include a cafe and music venue, all with the goal of promoting emerging artists and building a thriving creative community. His commitment to this mission was further solidified during his two terms as president of the Railroad Square Shops and Studios Association, where he organized and promoted dozens of community fundraising events and art exhibitions.
As an avid photographer, he specialized in using antique cameras and focused his lens on the battle between man-made objects and nature as it tried to reclaim its space. These skills eventually led to a successful photography business specializing in nature tourism, macro life, and real estate.
In recent years, Mickey has integrated his diverse skills into a single, cohesive practice. Now living in Asheville, North Carolina, he creates intricate wood and mixed media sculptures, where his technical design skills meet an organic sculpting mindset. He creates stunning, math and science-heavy pieces that bring the unseen world to life. Using geological and topographical data, he has developed a unique technique to carve intricate mountain ranges, making the earth’s hidden contours intimate and tactile. This same dedication to craft and design is also applied to his work as a luthier, where he creates artistic and finely-tuned guitars and other musical instruments, bridging the gap between sculpture and sound. In addition to his studio work, Mickey continues to perform solo shows in and around the Asheville area.Through it all, Mickey's art is a testament to his belief that everything has a hidden life and a story to tell. His work invites us to look closer, to listen more intently, and to see the beautiful, unseen world that is always waiting to be discovered.
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