Art Meets Math in the Mesmerizing Paintings by Michael Schultheis

Davide Di Prossimo
Writeca.com, Founder

Michael Schultheis has an academic background in mathematics and economics, and certainly not in art. Art was carelessly tossed in the artist’s mind when he was but a student, when he would observe geometric forms unfolding on the chalkboard of his professor. A seed was planted in his mind; a unique bond was so created.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION IN ITALY AND THE U.S. 

Schultheis was born in Washington State, the U.S. In 1989, the artist was educated in History and Italian at an international school in Siena, Italy, but between 1990 and 1993 Schultheis graduated in Economics in the U.S., undertaking a bachelor first, and a master’s degree after.

INSPIRED BY ANCIENT GREEK MATHEMATICIAN ARCHIMEDES 

In the painterly world of Schultheis, there is an unusual, fascinating link between two worlds, seemingly far away from each other: Abstract Expressionism and ancient Greek geometry. The path that Schultheis explores is an examination of both a classical and a contemporary approach. Schultheis indicates:

“There is a path between Abstract Expressionism and Ancient Greek Geometry that leads to a new terrain where art and math meet and we can explore classical and contemporary concepts. Using a timeless conceptual and visual language I render my ideas in layers of paint utilizing math from antiquity to explore geometric models of our emotional and physical worlds. Through this process, one can see and live in a different way, adding dimension to the experience of life.”

Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 B.C.) was a mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Schultheis’s paintings of the series “The Gardens of Archimedes” (“The Circle of Life Paintings”) transpose the geometry of the Greek mathematician into a symbolic visual language. With his approach, the artist explores basic human experiences such as the circular rhythm of breath and heartbeat, and the never-dying romantic historical concept of finding one’s other half; a soul mate.

NOT EVERYONE HAVING THE SAME VISION

The artist renders his ideas in layers of acrylic paint, exploiting mathematical formulas and geometric forms to explore unseen relationship between math and the human experience. Through this process, Schultheis prompts us to reflect about the world that surrounds us, and see whatever we want to see: a child would see a butterfly or a flower in a geometric form on a painting, yet an adult would see something else.

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT MICHAEL SCHULTHEIS

“The Gardens of Archimedes” paintings were selected a while ago for a solo exhibition at the Winston Wächter Fine Art Gallery in Seattle, WA. Visit the gallery’s website to discover more about Michael Schultheis and his artwork.