Michael Ajerman

Further Info

Biography

Michael Ajerman was born in New York. As a teenager he took part in the Cooper Union Outreach Program, afterwards studying at the Corcoran School of Art, the New York Studio School and the Yale Summer School at Norfolk. In 2003, he completed his Masters Degree at the Slade School of Art, receiving the British Institute Award from the Royal Academy the same year.

Ajerman has a remarkable ability to manipulate both vibrant and sombre colours in paint to capture intriguing “what happened next” moments. The same piece can produce smiles in some viewers and alarm in others. With his work, nothing is ever quite certain. His art compels the viewer to come in and find out.    

He has consistently exhibited internationally in solo and group shows. Is currently exhibiting in the Courtauld Institute’s  East Wing V1 in London and at the Bunker Art Space in Miami, Florida. In 2022 his work was showcased by the David Zwirner website Platform. 

His work is found in international collections including the Beth DeWoody Collection and the Wendy Fisher Collection.  Selected press includes The New York Times, Flash Art, The Guardian, The Sun, Arte, Garageland, Bay Area Reporter and the Royal Academy Magazine. 

He lives and works in London, UK.

Click here to read a recent interview

Education

2001-2003 Slade School of Art, University College London, MA Fine Art
2001 Yale at Norfolk Summer Art Program, Connecticut, USA
1998–2001 New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture
1999-2000 Slade School of Art, University College London Exchange Program
1996-1997 Corcoran School of Art, Washington DC, USA

Solo Exhibitions

2024
Wild Life, HemingwayArt, Oxford, UK
The Matters, Ein Sof Gallery, London, UK
2020
Grip, Aleph Contemporary. London, UK
Walker House, Diane Rosenstein Gallery. Los Angeles, CA, USA
2019
Possessions, Diane Rosenstein Gallery. Los Angeles, CA, USA
2017
Far From Tahiti, HemingwayArt Gallery, Oxford, UK
2013
Squash, Transition Gallery, London, UK
2012
Unexpected, Galleria Ghetta, Ortisei, Italy
Inatteso/Unexpected, Marcorossi Artecontemporanea Milan, and Eventinove Borgomanero, Italy
2011
Heads or Tails, HemingwayArt, Oxford, UK
2010
Glossolalia, Toomey-Tourrell Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Third Floor, Eventinove Artecontemporanea, Torino, Italy
Fishermen, Strawberry, and Devil Crab, Transition Gallery, London, UK
Third Floor, Marcorossi Artecontemporanea, Verona, Italy
2009
My Friends, Jerwood Project Space, London, UK
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Rothschild Fine Art, Tel Aviv, Israel
2007
Solo Project Space, Bridge Art Fair, London, UK
Reclamation Point, Bischoff/Weiss, London, UK
2006
The Norfolk Lesson, AR Contemporary, Milan, Italy
2005
Long Way Round, Bischoff/Weiss, London, UK

Selected Group Exhibitions

2023
Exhibition 2023/4, Bunker Art Space, Miami, Florida, USA           
East Wing Collection, Courtauld School, London, UK           
Portraits of Artists, Browse & Darby, London, UK           
Hampstead Art Society Summer Exhibition, D Contemporary, London, UK           
Boil, Toil + Trouble, Art in Common, Los Angeles, CA and Chicago, IL
2022 
Boil, Toil + Trouble, Art in Common, Miami, USA
Dark Night of the Soul, Oneroom Gallery, London, UK
April Artist Selection, Platform with Diane Rosenstein Gallery, USA
2021
Foot-Face, Kingsgate Workshops, London, UK
Lust Gruppenausstellung, Galerie Hübner + Hübner, Frankfurt, Germany
Next Generation Now, Ruth Borchard Collection, London , UK (Online)
Drawing Biennial 2021, The Drawing Room, London, UK
2020
The Just, curated by Dan Coombs. Aleph Contemporary. London, UK
2019
Connections, Gerald Moore Gallery, London, UK
Royal Academy Summer Show, Royal Academy, London, UK
Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize, Piano & Noble, London, UK
2018
Pacific Breeze, White Conduit Projects, London, UK
40 C selected by Tabish Khan, ASC Gallery, London, UK
Evening Standard Art Prize, National Gallery, London, UK
2017
Simmering, White Conduit Projects, London, UK
Contemporary British Painting Prize, Richmond Museum, London, UK
Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize, Piano & Noble, London, UK
2016
In This Soup We Swim, Kingsgate Workshops, London, UK
The Names, Transition Gallery, London, UK
2015
Contemporary Drawing from Britain, Xi'ian Academy of Fine Arts, China
The Names, Sluice Art Fair, Transition Gallery, London, UK
East End Painting Prize, The Rum Factory, London, UK
The Auction of Desire, Transition Gallery, London, UK
2014
BFAMI Fundraising Event, Phillip's, London, UK
2013
Atomic, Transition Gallery, London, UK
BFAMI Fundraising Event, Sotheby's, The Roundhouse, London, UK
2012
RA Summer Show, Royal Academy of Art, London, UK
Bad For You, curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody, Shizaru Gallery, London, UK
This is London, Shizaru Gallery, London, UK
Summer, HemingwayArt, Oxford, UK
Equinox, Transition Gallery, London, UK
2011
MiArt Fair, Marcorossi Artecontemporanea, Italy
Rabbia, Eventinove Artecontemporanea, Torino, Italy
Bologna Art Fair, Marcorossi Artecontemporanea, Italy
2010
Ajerman Maggis Ydanez, Rosso27, Rome, Italy
Aqua Art Fair, Toomey-Tourrell Gallery, Florida, USA
ART BLITZ, Transition Gallery, London
2009
thecentre:mk Painting Exhibition, FRINGEMK, Milton Keynes, UK
Kunskog, 500 Dollars, London, UK
Threadneedle Painting Prize 2009, ICA Gallery, London, UK
Summer Show, Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, USA
Return to Reason, Shades and Woods, London, UK
The Figure Show 09, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2008
Dreams - Michael Ajerman and Leonardo Greco, Spirale Arte, Monza, Italy
Awopbopaloobop, Transition Gallery, London, UK
Blu, Spirale Arte, Milan, Italy
10 Years, Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, USA
Frequencies - Michael Ajerman and James Kao, Toomey-Tourell Fine Art, San Francisco, USA
Art Daegu - Michael Ajerman, Tess Jaray, and Rana Begum, I-MYU Projects, Seoul, Korea
3 Points of View, Spirale Arte, Verona, Italy
Bridge Art Fair, Toomey-Tourell Gallery, New York, USA
East Wing Collection 8, Courtauld Galleries, London, UK
The Painting Room, Transition Gallery, London, UK
The Figure Show 08, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2007
Friends and Relatives, Spirale Arte, Milan, Italy
Bomberg’s Relevance, Ben Uri Gallery, London, UK
Repetition and Sequence, Jerwood Space, London, UK
Sequence and Repetition, Beldam Gallery, Brunel University, UK
Creekside Open x2, A.P.T Selected by Victoria Miro, London, UK
2006
Mirror-Image, Artonomy Fine Art, Cornwall, UK
Myth of Place, Nolia’s Gallery, London, UK
To Old Ladies, House Art Space, Macao, China
Private: Staff Only, ICA, London, UK
Enlightenment, Sotheby’s, London, UK
2005
SCOPEmiami, Bischoff/ Weiss, Miami, USA
ARTfutures 2005, Contemporary Arts Society, London, UK
SCOPElondon, Bischoff/ Weiss, London, UK
The Figure Show 05, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2004
The Relaxed Audience or Why Are We So Wise, Jeffrey Charles Gallery, London, UK
Greetings from Chelsea, Edward Thorp Gallery, New York, USA
DLA Art Award, Sarah Myerscough Fine Art, London, UK
ARTfutures 2004, Contemporary Arts Society, London, UK
New Work, New Artists, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
The Figure Show, Jill George Gallery, London, UK
2003
RA Summer Show, Royal Academy of Art, London, UK
1999
Absolut Secret, David McKee Gallery, New York, USA

SELECTED ARTICLES

2023
Interview with Michael Ajerman, Sarka Magazine, Turn Off the Lights, Issue 2                         
Art, whatever it takes, Michael Ajerman interview, www.romeartprogram.org
2022 
Iranian artist stages collaborative work outside Tate Modern commemorating recent victims of Khamenei’s regime, Louisa Buck, Artist Newspaper, December 21st
2019 
Michael Ajerman’s Possessions And Marty Schnapf’s Loves and Lovers, by Genie Davis. riotmaterial.com
2017 
Michael Ajerman: Far From Tahiti, ruthmillington.co.uk 
2015 
The Names, Alli Sharma. Garageland Magazine, Issue 19 December. Page 6-11
Tondo Art talks to Michael Ajerman-Three Podcasts, tondo.is
2014 
Arte, Un Affare Collecttivo, Catherina Belloni. letteradonna.it
2013 
Small is Big in October, Paul Carey-Kent. paulsartwrold.bogspot.co.uk
Michael Ajerman, ritratti ad alta Potenza di colore, Arte. August. Page 115.
2012 
Royal Academy Summer Show, Kensington & Chelsea Today, June 27th
2011 
Looking back at the art year 2011, Sara Wood. Bay Area Reporter. Dec. 29th
Michael Ajerman, HemingwayArt, Teresa Thompson. Oxford Times. April 6th
Coming soon to an art gallery near you, Sura Wood. Bay Area Reporter. Jan. 12th
2010 
Glossolalia at Toomey Tourell, San Francisco Chronicle. December 30th
Ombre rosse. Ajerman a Verona, Arte. June. Page 47.
2009 
Michael Ajerman: No Poster Boy, Noa Barack, Maariv. January 20th.
2008 
Studio Profile: Michael Ajerman, Garageland. Issue 7.
Friends & Relatives, Riccarda Mandrini. Flash Art. Feb-March. Page 141.
Preview: East Wing Collection VIII, saatchi-gallery.co.uk
Visual Arts Diary: The Painting Room, Kristine MacMichael. transitiontradition.com
2007 
Bomberg’s Relevance, JJ Charlesworth, Time Out London, September 4th
Going Out: Bomberg’s Relevance, Independent Magazine. August 11th
Beauty and the Repeat, Lucy Bayley. London Paper. August 28th.
To wear your art on your sleeve, Julia Weiner. Jewish Chronicle. March 23rd.
Keep in Dark, Francesca Gavin. bbc.co.uk/collective March 8th.
Reclamation Point, London Paper. March 6th, 2007
2006 
How to Collect, Paul Arendt, The Guardian, October 12th.
Both an Outsider and a Painter's Painter, Joao Ribas, The Sun, June 27th.
2005 
Emerging Artists: Fair Game, Joao Ribas. Artinfo.com. November 28th.
Interview with Michael Ajerman, H. Waddell, London Art and Artist Guide.
Monet, Manet, Money, Lucia Van Der Post, The Times, January 19th.
2004 
Greetings from Chelsea, New York Times, July 9th.
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts Magazine, Issue no.79, Page 51-2.

Lectures

2024 
Caravaggio: The Last One. Camberwell College of Art, London, UK.
2023 
Philip Guston: Don’t Smoke in Bed. Heatherleys School of Art, London, UK.
Philip Guston: Don’t Smoke in Bed. Camberwell College of Art, London, UK.
From Tipperary to Westwood, Courtauld University, London, UK
Paula Modersohn-Becker & the Visceral Body. Turps School of Art, London, UK
Paula Modersohn-Becker & the Visceral Body. Heatherleys School of Art, London, UK
2022 
From Tipperary to Westwood, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University, UK
Straws of Sickert, Camberwell College of Art, London, UK.‘RB Kitaj. Making it New, Now: Michael Ajerman in conversation with Tracy Bartley.’Royal Drawing School, London, UK.
Straws of Sickert, Heatherleys School of Art, London, UK.
2020 
Grip Interview with John Silvis. Aleph Contemporary, London, UK
2019 
From Tipperary to Westwood, New York Studio School, USA
In Conversation with William Feaver, Royal Drawing School, London, UK
2018 
From Tipperary to Westwood, Kitaj Research Fellowship, UCLA, USA
2017 
Artist Talk with Alex Michon. Hemingway Art, Oxford, UK
2008 
Artist Talk. Courtauld Institute, King’s College, London, UK
2006 
Artist Talk. New York Studio School, NY, USA

Writing

2023
Synchromy for R.B. Kitaj. garagelandmagazine.blogspot.com October 
2021
Four Questions for Musa Mayer. garagelandmagazine.blogspot.com March 
Dawn in the Studio: Philip Guston. garagelandmagazine.blogspot.com March 
2017
Friendship Through Greens and Reds. Garageland Magazine Issue 21. 
2016
David’s Days in the Hills. garagelandmagazine.blogspot.com Sept. 
Akira’s Chaos. Garageland Magazine Issue 20. 2016“Diving for Confessions, RB Kitaj.” Garageland Magazine. Issue 19. 
2015
Some Girls, Lucian Freud at Ordovas. garagelandmagazine.blogspot.com July. 
Photographs of Desire, Esther Friedman. Garageland Magazine. Issue 18. 
2014
Chuck Palahniuk, Interview. Garageland Magazine. Issue 17. 
2012
Lost in the Forest. Garageland Magazine. Issue 14. 
Film of Reference: Apocalypse Now. Garageland Magazine. Issue 14. 
Degas at the Royal Academy. Garageland Magazine. Issue 13. 
2011
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Garageland Magazine. Issue 12.

SELECTED AWARDS 

2020
Freelands Foundation Grant
2018
Kitaj Research Fellowship, UCLA, USA
2012-2014
Manhattan Graphics Center, SummerINK Scholarship
2003
British Institute Royal Academy Award
2002-2003
Slade Bursary
1996
William Newman Memorial Painting Award