Michael Hall

Michael Hall is an Associate Professor of Fine Arts Practice at California State University East Bay (CSUEB), specializing in painting, video, and interdisciplinary art. He holds an MFA from Mills College and a BFA from California College of the Arts. His work explores themes of personal objects, parenthood, family dynamics, and the interplay between art and history. Notable exhibitions include solo shows at Catharine Clark Gallery and the Townsend Center for the Humanities, UC Berkeley. Hall has been recognized with awards such as the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant and Alameda County Arts Leadership Award. He has held teaching roles at UC Berkeley, Mills College, and Creative Growth Art Center, where he founded their video production program. His curatorial work includes exhibitions at CSUEB’s University Art Gallery and Montalvo Arts Center.

• Education:
  • MFA in Painting/Video, Mills College, Oakland, CA (2008)
  • BFA in Painting, California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA (1996)
• Awards:
  • Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant (2010)
  • Alameda County Arts Leadership Award (2014)
  • SECA Award Nominee (2023, 2022, 2017, 2012)
• Research Focus: Contemporary art practices, historical reinterpretation, video production, and the role of everyday objects in artistic narrative.

His artistic practice integrates painting, video, and installation to examine human experiences through mythological, historical, and domestic lenses. Recent projects include For Real Life (2024, Catharine Clark Gallery) and A Course of Action (2012-2015, participatory installations). Hall’s work critiques societal norms while emphasizing mindfulness and observation.

Teaching and mentorship are central to his career, with over 13 years at Creative Growth Art Center and contributions to programs at UC Berkeley and Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art. He has curated exhibitions such as The Then in Now (2018) and StARTup Art Fair (2015).