michael binkley

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.