​​Exhibitions and Awards:



​2023- Generation Next: An Exhibition of Professor Holsomback and Former and Current Students,
Association of Visual Arts Gallery, Chattanooga, TN

2022- Solo Exhibition Lipscomb University Open Gallery, Nashville, TN

2022- Two-Person Exhibition Sarah Tortora and  Mike Holsomback, StoveWorks Gallery, Chattanooga, TN

2021- All-Member Exhibition, Association of Visual Artists Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2021- Group Exhibition, Art at the Airport, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, Chattanooga, TN
2020- Faculty Exhibition, Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, TN
2018-Group Exhibition, Michael's Fine Arts Gallery, Dalton, GA

2028-Group Show, David Jones Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2017-Solo Exhibition, Art Emporium Gallery, Dalton, GA

2016-Knoxville Arts and Cultural Alliance's National Juried Exhibition 2016, The Emporium Center, Knoxville, TN
2015- Southeastern College Art Conference Exhibition, SECAC Regional Competitive Exhibition, First Place Award,

Future Tenant Gallery, Pittsburgh, P
2015- Group Exhibition, Chattanooga State Fine Arts Faculty members Caroline Covington, Mike Holsomback and Mark Wood at the Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2014- Red Clay Survey, National Competitive Exhibition, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2014-LaGrange National XXVIII, National Competitive Exhibition, LaGrange Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
2013- Southeastern College Art Conference Exhibition, SECAC Regional Competitive Exhibition, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
2012- Group Exhibition: Michael Holsomback, Ken Page, Jennifer Rubin, Bank of America Building Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2012- Regional Juried Exhibition, Dogwood Fine Arts Exhibit, The Emporium Center, Knoxville, TN
2011-Juried Group Exhibition, Association for Visual Artists, Chattanooga, TN
2010- Solo Exhibition, Faces and Things: a New Portrait series by Michael Holsomback, Leu Art Gallery, Belmont University, Nashville, TN
2010-Solo Exhibition, Faces and Things: a New Portrait series by Michael Holsomback, Asher Love Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2009- Received a Create-here, Make-work Artist Grant for Faces and Things portrait series, Chattanooga, TN
2009- Solo Exhibition, New Work by Michael Holsomback, the Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
2008- Mural, the Chattanooga Humane Education Society, Chattanooga, TN
2008- First Place, the National Arts Program, Memorial Hospital Competition and Exhibition, Chattanooga, TN
2007- Exhibition, Contradictions and Collaborations: New Work by Michael Holsomback and Ken Page,
the Gallery,

Chattanooga, TN
2006- Group Exhibition, New Work by Michael Holsomback, Ken Page, Jeff Morris and Moe Mitchell, the Gallery,

Chattanooga, TN
2006- Individual Artist Grant, Allied Arts of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
2006- Exhibition and representation, the Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2006- Regional, Publication and reviewed in Creative Loafing, Felicia Feaster, Atlanta, GA
2005- Exhibition and representation, Chrysalis Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2005- Exhibition and representation, Studios on the Square Gallery, Roanoke, VA
2005- National Publication, New American Paintings Journal, Volume 58, Southern Edition, Open Studios Press, Boston, MA
2005- Solo Exhibition, Bad Days, Better Days and Dog Days, Association for Visual Artists, Chattanooga, TN 
2004- Solo Exhibition, Bad Days, Better Days and Dog Days, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
2003- Group Exhibition, Carrollton Cultural Arts Center, Carrollton, GA
2003- Solo Exhibition, Bad Days, Better Days and Dog Days, Cleveland State Community College, Cleveland, TN
2002- Art at Work in Chattanooga, a one year Corporate Lending Exhibition, Developmental Resource Center, Chattanooga, TN
2002- Artstravaganza, 15th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Juror- Robert Stackhouse, The Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
2001- Solo Exhibition, Association for Visual Artists Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
2001- Art at Work in Chattanooga, Corporate Lending Exhibition, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprises Offices,

Chattanooga, TN
2000- The Red Clay Survey, the Eighth Biennial Regional Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
1999- Purchase Award, Art in the City, a Juried Exhibition and Competition, Chattanooga City Hall, Chattanooga, TN 
1999- Festival ‘99, 36th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA 
1999- Artstravaganza, Twelfth Annual National Juried Exhibition, The Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
1998- Curator’s Special Mention for Excellence, Solo Show National Competition, the Stage Gallery, Merrick, NY
1998- Merit Award, Art with a Southern Drawl, Southeastern Regional Competition and Exhibition, University of Mobile,

Mobile, AL
1997- Curator’s Choice Award, Mixed-Media ’97, National Competition and Exhibition, the Stage Gallery, Merrick, NY
1997- Festival ‘97, Regional Competition and Exhibition, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1997- Art with a Southern Drawl, Southeastern Regional Competition and Exhibition, University of Mobile, Mobile, AL
1996- 4th Annual Salon Show, a Regional juried Exhibition, The River Gallery, Chattanooga, TN
1995- Festival 95, Creative Arts Guild Regional Competition and Exhibition, Dalton, GA
1994- South 94, Tennessee Valley Art Association Southeastern Regional Competition and Exhibition Tuscumbia, AL
1994- Artstravaganza, National Competition and Exhibition, the Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
1993- Grumbacher Gold Medallion Award, Festival 93, a Regional Competition and Exhibition, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1992- People’s Choice Award, Area Artists Exhibition, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1991- Best in Show Award, Festival 91, Regional Competition and Exhibition, Creative Arts Guild, Dalton, GA
1990- First Place Award, Area Artists Show, Cleveland State Community College, Cleveland, TN
1990- Works on Paper Exhibition, National Competition and Exhibition, Nassau Community College, Nassau, NY
1989- Best in Show Award, 25th Annual Regional Exhibition, First American Bank, Kingsport, TN
1989- Best in Show Award, Cabaret for the Arts, Regional Competition and Exhibition, Johnson City, TN
1988- 34th Annual National Competition and Exhibition, San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA

​Collections:

2022-Collection of Peter Ewing, Chattanooga, TN

2021-Collection of Harris Childers, Ringgold, GA
2021-Collection of Sandra Bos, Cookeville, TN
2021-Collection of Andy Mendonsa, Chattanooga, TN
2021-Collection of Marty Owens, Chattanooga, TN

2020-Collection of Terry Cannon, Chattanooga, TN

2020-Collection of Daryl Thetford, Chattanooga, TN

2019-Collection of Dana Shavin, Chattanooga TN

2015- Collection of Eva Lewis, Chattanooag, TN
2011- Collection of Charlotte Landis, Chattanooga, TN 
2010- Collection of Peter and Anne Platt, Chattanooga, TN
2010- Collection of Vincent Anderson, Dalton, GA
2010- Collection of Andy Mendonsa, Chattanooga, TN
2010-Collection of Karen Nazor Hill, Chattanooga, TN
2008- Collection of the Chattanooga Humane Education Society, Chattanooga, TN
2008- Collection of David Hutton, Chattanooga, TN
2008- Collection of Bruce and Denise Heinly, Chattanooga, TN 2008- Collection of Laurel Abernathy, Fort Oglethorpe, GA
2008- Collection of Pearl Hogan, Ringgold, GA
2007- Collection of Jonathan and Jabrina Willard, Chattanooga, TN
2006- Collection of Vernon Abrams, Atlanta, GA
2005- Collection of Nathan Gorman, Atlanta, GA
2005- Collection of Paul Grant, Chattanooga, TN 
2005- Collection of Leslie Graiter, Atlanta, GA
2004- Collection of Susan Robinson, Executive Director, Arts and Education Council, Chattanooga, TN
2004- Collection of King and Spalding Corporate Law Offices, Atlanta, GA
2004- Collection of Robert Webb, Dalton, GA
2004- Collection of Andreas Brumwhiler, Dalton, GA
2004- Collection of Muncie Cooper, Rocky Face, GA 
2004- Collection of Chriss and Cheryl Suddeth, Dalton, GA 
2004- Collection of Stephanie Byrd, Atlanta, GA 
2004- Collection of Mark and Tammie Wood, Chattanooga, TN
2003- Collection of the City of Chattanooga, TN / Developmental Resource Center, Chattanooga, TN
2003- Collection of Bob Bullard, Chattanooga, TN
2003- Collection of Stroud and Cynthia Watson, Chattanooga, TN
2002- Collection of Robyn and Victor Jabour, Chattanooga, TN
2001- Collection of Margy Oehmig, Chattanooga, TN
2001- Collection of Charlotte Landis, Chattanooga, TN
2001- Collection of Brad Reagan, Cleveland, TN
2000- Collection of the Chattanoogan Hotel, Chattanooga, TN
1999- Collection of the City Hall of Chattanooga, TN
1999- Collection of Bill and Lori Crosly, Dalton, GA
1999- Collection of Lauren Pieniaszek, Chattanooga, TN
1998- Collection of Olga deKlien, Chattanooga, TN
1998- Collection of Dr. Jacqueline Dryfoos, New York, NY
1997- Collection of Joe and Janet Helseth, Chattanooga, TN
1997- Collection of Mark and Tammie Wood, Chattanooga, TN
1997- Collection of Chattanooga State Community College, Humanities Department, Chattanooga, TN
1997- Collection of Sally Chazen, Chattanooga, TN
1996- Collection of Eddie Reddish, Signal Mountain, TN
1994- Collection of Chattanooga State Community College Library, Chattanooga, TN 
1994- Collection of David Crownover, Chattanooga, TN
1994- Collection of John Talbott, Chattanooga, TN
1992- Collection of Bill Grant / the Design Company, Dalton, GA
1991- Collection of Bill Grant / the Design Company, Dalton, GA
1982- Collection of Dalton College, Dalton, GA

Artist Statement:
The painting is not a mirror! It does not simply reflect my thoughts and emotions, my world or my culture. It may parallel those realities. It may have some organic relationship with those realities but, it exists in a form that has been born separate from those realities. It exists in a form that cannot be re-created or even properly described in another media. The good news is that the painting has a life of its own. But what is it saying?

I construct with a varied vocabulary of abstraction and representation, of changing styles and techniques. The imagery is discovered and replaced and often reborn. Images come like flashes, and are thrown into a new world of color, mark and surface, without full regard to their narrative implications. These stories are born of process and mood and the process gives birth to layers of association and inference, which then gives rise to narrative interpretations. The works are always narrative, inherently narrative in nature. But what is the story telling us?

So the painting is a visual myth, but to what end? It is a story which I initiate, but do not fully own. The characters which I have provided a stage for, are not fully under my control. I have given up control over these narratives. Any revelation is born during the process and lives in the work. While the works are fragmented and ever-changing. and the myth is odd and perhaps incomplete, the painting still has a life of its own.  Perhaps the story it tells has more to reveal than first appears, certainly more than I have words to describe.

​Mike Holsomback

Biography

Mike Holsomback is a well-known artist and art department faculty member at Chattanooga State Community College in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Holsomback has a considerable regional and national exhibition record. His work has been selected for exhibitions in such venues as: the San Diego Art Institute, the University of Mobile, the Stage Gallery in Merrick, New York, the Huntsville Museum of Art in Huntsville, Alabama, Nassau College in Nassau, New York, and Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee. His paintings and collages are found in the holdings of numerous private, corporate and government collections, including most notably, the corporate law offices of King and Spalding of Atlanta, GA, and the Park Avenue offices of Dr. Jacqueline Dryfoos of New York, NY.

HOLSOMBACK


Professor / Fine Arts Department – Visual Arts
Chattanooga State Community College
Chattanooga, Tennessee

​​
Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts / Painting and Drawing
The University of Georgia, Athens, GA
1981-1984
Master of Fine Arts / Painting and Printmaking
East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
1987-1989