My Story

I GREW UP AN INTROVERTED GAY KID ESCAPING LIFE THROUGH SKETCHING, DRAWING CARS AND PAINTING. I BECAME ENDLESSLY FASCINATED WITH COMPLEX GEOMETRIC CONCEPTS, ABSTRACT
MID-CENTURY STYLE AND CUBIST & IMPRESSIONIST ARTISTS.

I DREAMED OF BECOMING AN ARTIST OR FAMOUS AUTOMOBILE DESIGNER.

I WAS PUT ON THE STREET AT 17 BY MY FATHER FOR BEING GAY AND STRUGGLED FOR YEARS TO HEAL THE PSYCHIC WOUNDS AND FIND MY PLACE IN THE WORLD.

OVER TIME I CREATED MY CHOSEN FAMILY AND LIVED COMMUNALLY FOR 20 YEARS IN VENICE BEACH WITH MY ARTIST/BEST FRIENDS. MEDITATED AND HEALED MY SOUL BY BATHING MYSELF IN GLORIOUS, PINK-ORANGE SUNRISES & SUNSETS. MY SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.

MOVED TO PALM SPRINGS AND WAS IMMEDIATELY INSPIRED BY THE ECCENTRIC HISTORY, SUBLIME ARCHITECTURE AND FEROCIOUS NATURAL BEAUTY. MY ABSTRACT PAINTING SERIES, PALM SPRINGS LOVE STORY IS A CELEBRATION OF MY STUNNING DESERT HOME AND I PAY HOMAGE TO IT WITH SACRED GEOMETRIC WORLDS LAYED DOWN IN A TORRENT OF SMUDGES, SWIRLS, WHIPS & HATCHES.

MIKE ARNONE (AKA BIG MIKE)

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Exhibitions

2019-21 - Big Mike Art Gallery & Studio - Palm Springs - To Present (REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT.)

2021- DESERT OPEN STUDIOS - PALM SPRINGS - 4/10/21

2020 - JANSSEN ARTSPACE - PALM SPRINGS - 4/21-7/21

2020 - THE LELAND GALLERY - OLD TOWN ARTISAN STUDIOS - LA QUINTA - 1/30-2/14

2019-20 - V WINE LOUNGE - PALM SPRINGS - 11/30-1/28

2019 - GALLERY500 - PALM SPRINGS - 9/26-11/1

1998 - ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

1996 - LAGUNA BEACH MUSEUM OF ART