Featured Artist

Michael Kuseske
2011 Commemorative Poster Artist

Michael Kuseske of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, was selected to be featured as the 2011 Des Moines Arts Festival^® commemorative poster.  Kuseske’s painting, entitled Mist, features a large, unique and impactful white hydrangea depicted onto black canvas.

Born and raised in Minnesota, Kuseske attended Concordia University in St. Paul. After teaching a year of high school, he and his wife went to California where he studied art at UC Santa Barbara. Since then he has pursued art as a full-time profession. His first influences came from pop art, which was taking something very ordinary and putting it in an unordinary setting. Kuseske takes a flower, which is rather small and often viewed from a distance, and makes them huge, allowing all to see something very rare. He also uses a black background and no-frame, gallery wrapped edge that ads to the dramatic art. 

When asked what he tries to achieve with each piece, he states, “It is not necessarily the essence of the flower that attracts me, it is the substance, the shape, form, and color. I want my flowers to come out of the canvas and make the viewer feel that they can reach out and touch them.”

You can also visit his website to see many of his works at michaelkuseskepaintings.com.

Official commemorative posters, note cards and apparel inspired by Kuseske’s work can be purchased by downloading the Merchandise Order Form or calling 515-286-4927.