Michael Petry
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Projects

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The Word is Art

The Word is Art is a project encapsulating Petry's most recent publication, and a touring exhibition based on themes of the book. The work was published by Thames and Hudson in 2018, and explores the use of text and language in the contemporary arts.

Paperback release spring 2021

An initial exhibition exploring this subject was held at Helsinki Contemporary in June of 2017. 
Download the PDF from the Helsinki Contemporary exhibition
Introduction to the accompanying video series (1 of 10)

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A Twist in Time

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A one man show, installed throughout the historic rooms of Pallant House Museum, featuring glass sculptures created in direct response to the forms of the grand staircase.


Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
2015/2016

Download the PDF
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A.T. The Core of the Algorithm

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47 glass globes hang in clusters from the ceiling of as Petry's homage to British mathematician Alan Turing. Up close, each “bubble” has a piece bitten out of it—the spherical shape is a reference to the cyanide-coated apple with which Turing is suspected to have taken his own life.

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Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston

2015

GLAZENHUIS, Lommel, Belgium
2014


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Libations 

A prolonged investigation into the contemporary aspects of the classical world of love and death. Petry explores mythic ritual through  sculpture, installation and performance.


The Fine Art Society
2016
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​Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
2016
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Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe
2014

​At the Palm Springs Art Museum, The Galen, Palm Dessert
2015

Related paintings at Melissa Morgan Gallery
2015

Alentejo Trienal, Portugal
2014
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Golden Rain



100 mirrored golden vessels are suspended from the centre of the tower. Each vessel, shaped like a raindrop or tear, is sealed at the top by a cork. Inside the vessels are 100 texts, images, drawings, photographs, objects or ideas sent to Petry by other artists and authors. They were asked to think about what they would write, draw or mark on a sheet of paper, if they too were locked in such a tower and had only a bottle as a means of discourse with the outside world.


On permanent display at the Palm Springs Art Museum, California

Download the PDF
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Joshua D’s Wall


A field of displaced glass orbs entitled Joshua D’s Wall, a work in which each stone can be sold separately and removed to a different context. Stones have been shown in Norway, Stockholm and Texas, and exist in collections the world over.

​​The Fine Art Society
2016

Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston
2013

Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, Santa Fe
2012




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Sir John Soane's Museum Artist in Residence: 
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Smoke &  Mirrors
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Two exhibitions (Bad Seed, and Touching the Neoclassical and the Romantic) shown simultaneously within the Sir John Soane Museum reflecting on the contents and history of the building, as well as the legacy of Soane himself.

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Sir John Soane’s Museum London
​2010 – 2011
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​Got Wood


Got Wood references a term used in gay and straight pornography - got wood is the term used for when the male performer is erect and ready to be filmed.


Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston
2007

Westbrook Gallery, London
2007


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​​Treasure of Memory

Michael Petry’s colossal necklace of thirty-two colorful blown glass beads, both humbles and empowers us as it brings us face to face with our limitations and powers. ​

​​Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, USA
2010

Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi
2009

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Glasswear, Museum of Arts and Design, New York
2009

Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester
2009

Treasure of Memory in Glasswear, Toledo Museum of Art
2007

The Treasure of Memory, Devin Borden Hiram Butler Gallery, Houston
2006

T​reasure of Memory, Ha Game Prestegard

2000
  • Projects
  • Exhibitions
  • Performance
  • Publications
  • Curation
  • Talks
  • News
  • Archive
  • Biography
  • Contact