Spotlight on the Artist: Michael Jung

Wisconsin native, Michael Jung graduated from Denison University in 1958, and  earned two Master’s Degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served three years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy touring the Pacific. Following his service, he married his wife Marilyn, who had been a fellow classmate at Denison, and by 1962, they had three children. He returned to Granville in 1967 as an artist-in-residence, eventually becoming a full professor in the Denison Art Department for more than three decades. Mike and Marilyn made their home in Granville where they raised their family. He was a beloved professor whose teaching inspired generations of Denison students. Michael traveled widely, visiting 58 countries in his lifetime; the imagery of his travel experiences often influenced his painting. He continued to work daily at his studio on River Road in Granville after retiring in 2001 as Emeritus Studio Art Professor. He died in September of 2022 at the age of 86. 

Like many artists of his generation, Michael was inspired by the many artistic movements of the 20th century. Surrealism exerted a particularly profound influence on his development as an artist, providing him with the visual language to explore beneath the surface of what he saw. Michael’s sensitivity to the unseen world can be disorienting or even challenging. A familiar response to anyone who asked him about the meaning of his work was the evasive but provocative, “What does it mean to you?” He left no roadmap and no instructions, only the work itself. Take his challenge as an invitation to see with your own eyes and emotions. 

To see Michael Jung’s works, up for auction through June 4, 2024, visit the auction site here.