Mike Dargas

Reflection of Dreams consists of seven new large-scale and two new smaller-scale oil paintings, including images of women gazing into mirrors and Dargas’ favored subject of flowing honey and chocolate over female faces. His provocative, hyper-realistic style together with his meticulous attention to detail create a sense of immediacy that is textured and visceral. But a deeper look at his work reveals a fascination with intimacy, a kind of personal and private experience, conjured by an inflaming of the senses. His paintings, though extremely sensual, go beyond the erotic, towards an exploration of self-awareness and love, and a reinvigoration of innocence, genuine emotion and sacredness.

Mike Dargas (b. 1983) was born in Cologne, Germany. Inspired by artists such as Dali, Caravaggio and H.R. Giger, Dargas studied various painting techniques since his early childhood when he developed a passion for realism, which over the years has developed into hyper-realism. He attracted attention at age eleven recreating old master paintings with pastel and chalk on the pavement in front of Cologne Cathedral. Shortly after, Dargas graduated in his youth from an adult art class after eighteen months. Through these classes coupled with independent study, Dargas learned and honed different techniques in painting and three-dimensional art. He started doing tattoos from the age of fourteen and made quite a reputation out of it, receiving numerous awards and prizes. Dargas has exhibited internationally throughout Germany, Belgium, London, Spain, Turkey, and Austria. His works are included in numerous private collections and have been featured in international art fairs such as Contemporary Istanbul, Art Miami, Stroke, and Art New York. Dargas is represented in the United States by C24 Gallery.