Biography
Michael Binkley is one of Canada's most successful self represented artists. Born in 1960, he is primarily a self taught sculptor. His artistic talent was evident at an early age and through perseverance and dedication, he is now one of Canada's leading stone sculptors. Binkley maintains his studio gallery and sculpture garden, Binkley Sculpture Studios, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with his wife Michelle.
Binkley's initial inspiration to turn to stone sculpture occurred in 1980 while he was in Florence, Italy. He encountered Michelangelo's four unfinished "Captives" at the Accademia, which struck a chord deep inside him. He discovered he was able to see the finished sculptures hidden in the marble and from that moment, a transformation began which has shaped the soul of an Artist.
Since his experience with the "Captives," Binkley's desire to create has been continuous and prolific. His passion is for the human form, and this can be seen in a wide range of gorgeous sculptures ranging from stylized to representational in his Figurative Portfolio. He also creates images of Wildlife and pure Abstract forms. Inspiration for his sculptures comes from his life experiences and observations and it is a rare moment when his sensors are turned off. The sensory joy one experiences from feeling a polished stone is something no other material can provide. There is an ancient, primal link between Man and stone, and few viewers can resist the urge to run their hand over Binkley's sculptures. Sculpture occupies space in our world and allows for a deeper connection through the sense of touch. This is a feature that two-dimensional art cannot satisfy.
Binkley strives to create sculpture which will seduce the viewer's eye, stir the soul, and entice the viewer to touch. He carves as much of the details of a particular subject as he can, without sacrificing the flowing, graceful lines which typify his style. He is a widely collected artist with a diverse and versatile sculpting talent. His work over the years has proved to have a universal appeal. His work can be found in private, corporate and public collections on every continent and he has over 40 exhibitions to his credit.
Binkley has worked with exclusive, six-star cruise ship lines. He is the first stone sculptor to have a solo exhibition aboard a cruise ship. Binkley is the first stone sculptor to give carving lessons aboard an ocean liner. Binkley is the first stone sculptor to lead an art tour aboard the cruise ship, Crystal "Symphony". Binkley is the only Canadian artist in the permanent international art collection aboard the Queen Mary 2, the world's largest ocean liner.
In April 2006, Binkley traveled to Pietrasanta, Italy and worked at renowned Studio SEM for the month, beginning work on four major commissions in Carrara marble for North American patrons. He returned again for the month of September in 2008 to begin a new series of sculptures in the beautiful white Carrara marble.
Binkley is passionate about his work, and is interested in sharing it with patrons. He is very approachable, and welcomes your inquiries. If you are interested in any of the sculptures you see on this site, or wish to discuss the creation of a specific piece, please Contact Michael Binkley.
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Timeline
Click on the highlighted items for more information.
- 1960 Birth - Toronto, ON, Canada
- 1980 Epiphany - Florence, Italy
- 1980 Pratt studio apprentice, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1981 Granville Bridge studio, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1981 First Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1982 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1983 First Ave. studio, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1983 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1984 Alaskan & BC Artists Exhibition group show, Carmel, CA, USA
- 1984 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1985 New gallery and sculpting studio, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1985 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1986 “Rune Stone” commission, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1986 “Lions” commission, Expo '86, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1986 La Linea Exhibit group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1986 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1987 - 1992 weekend exhibits, solo show, Lonsdale Quay Market, North Van., BC, Canada
- 1987 Commonweath Heads of Gov't Meeting group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1987 Faces & Figures group exhibition group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1988 Faces & Figures group exhibition group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1988 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1988 Design for Giving, group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1989 “Sounding Humpback” commission, Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1989 Faces & Figures group exhibition, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1989 Design for Giving, group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1989 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1990 One of a Kind, group spring show, Toronto, ON, Canada
- 1990 One of a Kind, group fall show, Toronto, ON, Canada
- 1990 10th Anniversary Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1991 Faces & Figures, group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1991 One of a Kind, group fall show, Toronto, ON, Canada
- 1991 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1992 One of a Kind, group spring show, Toronto, ON, Canada
- 1992 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1993 Faces & Figures, group show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1993 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1994 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1995 The Garden Sculpture Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1995 Faces & Figures, solo show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1995 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1996 Figures & Landscapes, group show, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1996 The Garden Sculpture Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1996 The Canadian Gardener TV Show with David Tarrant
- 1996 Interior Exterior Spaces, group show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1996 North Vancouver Community Arts Council board of director
- 1996 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1997 - 2001 North Vancouver Community Arts Council president
- 1997 The Garden Sculpture Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1997 Faces & Figures, group exhibition, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1997 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1998 The Garden Sculpture Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1998 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1999 The Garden Sculpture Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 1999 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2000 The Garden Sculpture Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2000 In the Beginning...There was Stone, group show, Bellingham, WA, USA
- 2000 20th Anniversary Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2001 The Garden Sculpture Show, group show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2001 Nude - Go Figure, group show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2001 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2002 Gazing into Stone, solo show, Miami, FL, USA
- 2002 “Mark Hoggins Memorial” commission
- 2002 Sculptures at Sea, solo show, Radisson Navigator, AK, USA
- 2002 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2003 “Seashells” commission, Queen Mary 2
- 2003 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2004 Queen Mary 2 workshops
- 2004 Symposium Instructor, Mount Vernon, WA, USA
- 2004 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2005 Art Tour Host on Crystal Cruise Line “Symphony”, Mediterranean Cruise
- 2005 Body Language, group show, Ferry Building Gallery, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2005 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2006 Start major commission sculptures in Pietrasanta, Italy
- 2006 “Barn Owl” commission, Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2006 Symposium Instructor, Thetis Island, BC, Canada
- 2006 “Breadfruit Leaf” commission for Naplili Kai Beach Resort, Maui, HI, USA
- 2007 “Kelp & Oyster Shell” commission for Sea Lion Point Lodge, Sonora Island, BC, Canada
- 2007 “Ansia” commission
- 2007 Symposium Instructor, Mission, BC, Canada
- 2007 Mountaineer & Artist, group show, Whyte Museum, Banff, AB, Canada
- 2007 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2008 “Winds of War” commission
- 2008 Start sculpture projects in Pietrasanta, Italy
- 2008 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2009 Sculpture in the Garden, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2009 “Moai Heads” commission
- 2009 Symposium Instructor, Vancouver Island BC, Canada
- 2009 Body & Spirit, group show, CityScape Gallery, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2009 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2010 Sculpture in the Garden, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2010 30th Anniversary Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2011 Sculpture in the Garden, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2011 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2012 Art in the Garden, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- 2012 Studio Show, solo show, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Selected Collections
- Mr. Bryan Adams, Canada & England
- Ms. Jann Arden, Bragg Creek, AB, Canada
- Ms. Cecilia Bartoli, Rome, Italy
- Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bentley, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- B.C. Sugar Ltd. Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Blundell Seafoods Ltd., Richmond, BC, Canada
- Mr. & Mrs. Peter Brown, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Mr. J. Caldwell, Fort Pierce, FL, USA
- Canyon Ranch SpaClub
- City of Vancouver, BC, Canada
- City of White Rock, BC, Canada
- Mr. Chris Carter, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Clark Wilson, Barristers, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Cunard Line, Queen Mary 2
- Mr. G. Fitzgerald, Whistler, BC, Canada
- Mr. & Mrs. G. Diamond, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Sir Richard Glyn, Wimborne, Dorset, England
- Gotack Transportation Ltd., Hongkong
- Mr. & Mrs. S. Hean, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Mr. Doug Holtby, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Husky Oil Ltd., Calgary, AB, Canada
- Mr. & Mrs. G. Kalmar, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Laguna Reef Inn, Laguna Beach, CA, USA
- Mr. & Mrs. J. Leigh, West Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Napili Kai Beach Resort, Maui, HI, USA
- Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- PABS Ltd., Melbourne, Australia
- Mr. Oscar Peterson, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Ms. Mary Pratt, St. John's, NF, Canada
- Raven Woods, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- RCS Enterprises Ltd., Singapore
- Ricoh Electronics Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
- Former President Mary Robinson, Ireland
- Dr. & Mrs. D. Rupka, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Sea Lion Pointe Lodge, Sonora Island, BC, Canada
- Sterling Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, Phil., PA, USA
- Ms. Jan Taradash, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Tyndallstone Lodge, Whistler, BC, Canada
- Ms. Marguerite Yee, Vancouver, BC, Canada