“Conversations in Color” Featuring Michael James Cisarik & Kristin Shearer at The Miller Gallery
The Miller Gallery presents Conversations in Color, an exhibition that brings together the dynamic abstract works of Michael James Cisarik and Kristin Shearer. This exhibition is a celebration of how color, texture, and personal expression come together to create a visual dialogue that connects both the artists and their audiences.
Michael James Cisarik, an emerging abstract artist based in Houston, Texas, began painting in 2020, and in just a few years, his works have garnered recognition from prominent national and international publications, including Condé Nast, Vanity Fair, House & Garden, Saatchi Art, and more. Named an “A-List Artist” by Vanity Fair in March 2023, Cisarik’s works are large in scale and hyper-minimalist, often focusing on color blocks paired with contrasting accents, textures, and delicate scrawls to evoke movement and emotional depth.
Cisarik describes his creative process as a journey of exploration, where the final piece is not always clear from the outset. "I never really know when a painting is finished," he explains. "It’s a process of discovery. My vision morphs as I add elements, and when it clicks, the piece comes alive with emotions—happiness, sadness, peace, hope. Each piece contains feelings that I hope viewers can connect with, even if they’re feeling something completely different."
With mediums like acrylic, oil paints, charcoal, pastel, and graphite, Cisarik’s work radiates intensity and emotion, making his pieces compelling and immersive experiences for anyone who views them.
Kristin Shearer, based out of Atlanta, Georgia, has always had a deep love for painting. What started as a childhood dream of becoming an artist has grown into a flourishing practice. Her mixed-media pieces combine paint, charcoal, colored pencil, and collage, with a particular focus on texture and color to express emotions and capture fleeting moments. Driven by her passion for interior design, Shearer aims to create work that feels personal and intentional in the spaces it occupies, evoking a sense of connection and emotion.
In Conversations in Color, Cisarik’s gestural, bold use of color and free-flowing brushstrokes beautifully complement Shearer’s colorful, geometric, and precise approach. Together, their works create a cohesive conversation that speaks to the power of color in shaping our emotional and sensory experiences.
The exhibition will open on March 7th from 5–8 pm in collaboration with the Charleston Gallery Association’s First Friday Artwalk. Conversations in Color will be on view through the end of March.