Born in Palo Alto, Michael Szabo's childhood passion for art led him to Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned a degree in sculpture. After graduating, he spent three years as the director of the Metals Division at Summit Springs Design in Woodside, CA. In 2004 Michael founded SzaboWorks and established his studio practice in San Francisco. Along with his series of hand crafted sculptural vessels, Michael has gained recognition for his unique sculpture, water features and paintings. His work has been commissioned and exhibited by galleries, museums, and private collectors nationally and internationally.
     Working predominantly with alternative metal fabrication techniques, his process is based on a philosophy of accident, exploration and learning, often yielding abstract yet familiar forms that hint at natures process of object making. While in recent years Michael's focus has been on large scale site-specific sculpture in public and private settings, his ongoing devotion to the solitary process of sculpture and painting continue to inform and inspire his architectural scale works, which require a more collaborative design and fabrication process. Michael Szabo currently resides and maintains his studio in San Francisco, CA.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

2002
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture

1999-2000
California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA


Awards

2002
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Outstanding Senior in Sculpture Award

International Sculpture Center
Nominated: Outstanding Achievement in Sculpture


Lectures

2008
Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA
Guest Speaker and Panelist, 2008 Artist Lecture Series


Selected Publications
“Inside City Limits” studio visit & interview Aired August 12, 2009
San Francisco Examiner August 11, 2009
San Francisco Chronicle August 5, 2009
American Craft May 2009
Palo Alto Weekly August 1, 2008
Palo Alto Weekly September 6, 2007
Home and Design Magazine October 2007


Professional Experience

2004 - present
SzaboWorks sculpture, metalwork & design, San Francisco, CA
Owner

2002 - 2005
Summit Springs Design, Woodside, CA
Director, Metals Division

2001
Spritz-Wipe Gallery, Providence, RI
Co-founder, Curator

2000 - 2002
Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
Teaching Assistant for 2D and 3D design classes
Tech in Woodshop and Foundry

1999 - 2000
California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland, CA
Metal Shop Tech/Monitor

1996 - 2000
Willis Photo Lab, Palo Alto, CA
Airbrush Touch-up Artist

Selected Commissions

2009
Miles Amen, San Francisco, CA Site specific interior sculpture
Karen Sipprell, Palo Alto, CA Site specific exterior sculptures & water sculpture
Kyle Garcia, Lawrence, KS Commissioned interior sculpture

2008
City of Palo Alto, CA: “Arch Cradle”, Site specific public sculpture, Mitchell Park
Karen Johnson, Los Altos, CA Site specific water feature
Christine Silver, San Francisco, CA Custom floor vases
Fine Line Designs, Ephraim, WI Commissioned water sculpture
Karen Mangurten, Northbrook, IL Custom floor vase

2007
Maryanne Fiorita, Rockville, MD Site specific water sculpture
Steve & Wendi Aimonetti, Redwood City, CA Two site specific water sculptures
Cliff & Penny Kupperberg Site specific sculpture

2006
Superior Court of California, San Francisco, CA Vessel for judges conference room
Friedman & Shields Architecture, Greenbrae, CA Series of custom live tree planters
Tom & Rosemarie Fewell, San Mateo, CA Interior sculpture & exterior water feature

2005
Big Pagoda Gallery, San Francisco, CA Series of custom floor vases
Sheryl & Bud Hyler, Portola Valley, CA Custom entrance vase

2004
Janet & Iqbal Paroo, Portola Valley, CA Site specific water feature
John & Rosemarie Troccee, San Carlos, CA Site specific water sculpture

2003
Peter Garratt, Woodside, CA Permanent geodesic dome dwelling


Selected Exhibitions

2009
Jan Gahagan Fine Art, San Jose, CA
Dimensions Gallery, Petaluma, CA
San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design Ongoing exhibition
American Craft Council Shows, San Francisco, CA & Baltimore MD

2008
Dayle Dunn Gallery, Half Moon Bay, CA
American Craft Council Shows, San Francisco, CA & Baltimore MD

2007
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Hang Art, San Francisco, CA
Solo Gallery, Los Gatos, CA
Big Pagoda Gallery, San Francisco, CA
American Craft Council Shows, San Francisco, CA & Baltimore MD

2006
Aspect Gallery, San Francisco, CA Solo exhibition: Michael Szabo, Sculpture
Artscape, Walnut Creek, CA
Micaela Gallery, San Francisco, CA Salon d’Ete
Phillips Gallery, Carmel, CA

2005
RISD Alumni Show, San Francisco, CA
Big Pagoda Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Kings Mountain Art Fair, Woodside, CA

2004
Kings Mountain Art Fair, Woodside, CA

2002
Carr House, Providence, RI
The Space, Providence, RI
Woods Gerry Gallery, Providence, RI

2000-2001
Spritz-Wipe Gallery, Providence, RI