Artist Statement
 
Landscape is not a genre of art but a medium...a medium of exchange between the human and the natural, the self and the other...Landscape is a scene meditated by culture, it is both represented and presented space, both a signifier and a signified, both frame and what a frame contains, both a real place and its simulacrum... W.J.T. MITCHELL

My studio practice examines the intersection of adventure, art, and place, using lived experiences as a foundation for creative expression. Through drawing, printmaking, and artist books, I transform the sensory and emotional nuances of outdoor pursuits—long-distance cycling journeys, backcountry ski tours, and extended wilderness expeditions—into visual narratives. These works function as indexical records of my travels, capturing both the tangible and abstract qualities of the landscapes I traverse.
 
Central to my process is the engagement of the human body as a vehicle for artistic exploration. Immersing myself in diverse environments, I investigate how nature and the landscape influence my perceptions, both visually and physically. The textures, colors, and patterns I encounter directly influence the marks, forms, and compositions in my work, creating an intimate dialogue between the experience of the landscape and the work itself. This dialogue between moving through the terrain and responding creatively blurs the boundaries between participant, observer, and maker.
 
Building on a long tradition of artists inspired by nature, my work explores new ways to engage with the environment in a contemporary context. I examine how the landscapes we navigate are influenced by ecological and cultural histories, and how they, in turn, shape our experiences and identities. By reflecting on the evolving relationship between humans and the natural world, I strive to create a practice that both honors the landscapes we inhabit and invites viewers to reflect on their own connections to these spaces and the stories they hold.
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Bio

Michael Baum is an interdisciplinary print-based artist who has spent the last three decades exploring numerous mountain ranges, including Wyoming’s Tetons, the Cascades, and the Alaska Range. His prints have been featured in national exhibitions at venues such as the Intersect Arts Center in St. Louis, Missouri, Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery at Oklahoma City University, and Remarque/New Grounds Print Workshop in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Notably, his work has been showcased in the South Dakota Governor's Biennial Exhibitions and is housed in public collections like the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Oregon, the Boise Art Museum, Idaho, and the Museum of Art/WSU in Washington state. Michael holds an MFA from Washington State University and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Studio Art at Black Hills State University. He is a past recipient of career development grants from the South Dakota Arts Council, funded by The National Endowment for the Arts to support his artistic projects.