Art as Scientific Research

I seek to engage in artistic expression the way a scientist engages in research. Scientific research often does not have a specific goal, or end product in mind, it is done for the sake of learning. Ultimately, what is learned will be incorporated into new technology, and this has allowed human beings to travel to the moon, communicate instantly around the planet, cure diseases and so on. That fundamental research is the key to doing all the amazing things we can do, but it is sometimes aimless, and discoveries are often made my mistake.

This is how I look at art. Imagine your life without your favorite book, favorite film, favorite video game etc... these things are important to us, we learn valuable lessons from them, and they influence our way of interacting with the world and each other. They are a kind of emotional technology that has become incredibly refined over the centuries, much like the physical technology of scientific advance. But it is the primary efforts of individuals that ultimately fuels the more robust entertainment industries.

As an artist, I am engaging in this raw, undirected research. I do not know what I will find or invent along the way. But in the core of my being I feel the need to experiment and discover those things that no one has done before. It is this possibility of discovery that compels me to continue.

An American Muslim Artist

My work does not always make it clear, but my faith really does influence a lot of what I do artistically. Beyond the obvious, like avoiding explicit imagery, I think it is important that people of faith have a voice in the art and entertainment industries. For me this does not mean making art that teaches a particular religious precept. Instead, for me it's about expressing my own personal thoughts or emotions in a way that is congruent with those precepts, not contradicting them.

Past Solo Shows

Pines Village Retirement Community
Solo Exhibition
January 25th - February 28th 2019
Open to the public weekdays
Reception 1:30 - 3:30 pm, Sunday, January 27th
3303 Pines Village Cir,
Valparaiso, IN 46383

Space and Sound
February 18th to March 1st 2017
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst, IL

45th Annual Pilsen East Artists' Open House
October 9th - 11th 2015
1915 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60608

Visual Chant
Feb 26th - May 26th, 2015
Health in the Arts Clinic
UIC Campus
835 Wolcott, Chicago, IL

Solo Exhibition
September 11th - October 12th, 2013
Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205
162 S. York St.
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Solo Exhibition
March 25th - May 12th, 2013
Reception - March 30th, 2013 IMAN - Inner City Muslim Action Network
2744 W 63rd St.
Chicago, Illinois 60629

The Nature of Form (Solo Exhibition)
June 20th - July 20th, 2012
The Illinois Institute of Art
1000 N Plaza Dr Ste 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173

2011 Brava! Theater for Women in the Arts
September 9th - 13th
2781 24th St. San Francisco, CA 94110
http://www.brava.org/

"American Islamic Art"
Solo Exhibition Featuring Paintings and Drawings by Michael Klaus Schmidt
Reception - January 21st - 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Refreshments will be served
Opens Jan 11th, closes February 11th
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Past Group Shows

Elmhurst Artists' Guild - Winter Members Show
December 1st, 2018 - January 5th, 2019
The Elmhurst Artists' Guild
150 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst, IL

I Am American
Curated by Sergio Gomez
October - November 3rd, 2018
Freeport Art Museum
121 N. Harlem Ave.
Freeport, IL 61032

If You Only Knew
Curated by J & K Isacson
September 8 - November 3, 2018
Freeport Art Museum
121 N. Harlem Ave.
Freeport, IL 61032

I Am American
Curated by Sergio Gomez
June 28 - September 15, 2017
Argonne 201 Gallery
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Avenue, Bldg. 201
Argonne, IL 60439

Elmhurst Artists' Guild - Spring Members Show
April 2nd - May 12th, 2017
The Elmhurst Artists' Guild
150 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst, IL

Artprize
September 24th - October 12th, 2016
The Waters Building
161 Ottawa NW, Grand Rapids, MI

Future So Bright
Jan 30th - Feb 27th 2016
Old Court House Arts Center
101 N Johnson St.
Woodstock, Illinois 60098
Honorable Mention for "Differential"

4th Annual Creek Gallery Exhibition
August 14th - 30th 2015
Willow Creek Crystal Lake
220 N. Exchange Drive
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

I Am American
Curated by Sergio Gomez
Jan 16th - Feb 14th, 2015
Reception - Jan 16th, 7:00 - 10:00pm
Zhou B. Art Center
1029 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL

Elmhurst Artists' Guild - Winter Members Show
Jan 3rd - Jan 16th, 2015
Maze won an honorable mention Reception - Jan 9th, 7:00 - 9:00pm
The Elmhurst Artists' Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Artprize
September 24th - October 12th, 2014
West Coast Coffee
55 Monroe Center St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

I Am American
Curated by Sergio Gomez
August 25th - September 30th, 2014
Reception - August 28th, 2014 - 5:00 - 8:00pm
Governors State University

Elmhurst Artists' Guild - Summer Members Show
July 8th - August 15th, 2014
Apertures won an honorable mention The Elmhurst Artists' Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

I Am American
Curated by Sergio Gomez
June 14th - July 26th, 2014
Reception - June 14th, 2014 - 6:00 - 9:00pm
White Ripple Gallery
6725 Kennedy Ave.
Hammond, IN 46323

I Am American
Curated by Sergio Gomez
January 24th - March 30th, 2014
Reception - January 24th, 2014 - 6:00 - 10:00pm
Water Street Studios
160 S. Water St.
Batavia, IL 60510

Double Take
Winning Artists from 2013 Emerging Artists Exhibitions
October 11th - October 28th, 2013
Reception - October 11th, 2013 - 6:00 - 9:00pm
Morpho Gallery
5216 N. Damon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625

Artprize
September 24th - October 12th, 2013
Westminster Presbyterian Church
47 Jefferson SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Carved and Composed
March 6th - May 4th, 2013
Reception - March 8th, 2013 - 6:00 - 9:00pm
Oak Park Art League
720 Chicago Ave
Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Emerging Artists Exhibitions
Winter Sessions 2013
January 11th - March 11th, 2013
Morpho Gallery
5216 N. Damon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625

Chicago to Lahore - A Cultural Nexus
October 17th, 2012
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington St,
Chicago, IL 60602

Elmhurst Artists' Guild - Fall Members Show
September 18th - October 26th, 2012
Reception - September 21st, 2012 - 7:00 - 9:00pm
The Elmhurst Artists' Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Art of 9:Two
May 19th - June 29th, 2012
The Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center
1040 Dunham Road
Palos Park, IL 60464

Art of 9:One
March 9th - April 22, 2012
McCord Gallery
9602 W. Creek Rd.
St. Charles, IL 60174

Letters from Home
September 27th - December11th
Elmhurst Historical Museum
120 E. Park Ave.
Elmhurst, IL 60126
http://www.elmhurst.org

2011 "Muslim Fest - Mississauga" - July 23rd - July24th
Celebration Square
Mississauga, ON
http://www.muslimfest.com

2011 "Summer Members Show" - June 27th - July 29th
The Living from the Dead
won Honorable mention
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

"ISNA"
Booth # 207
Reception - July 1st - July 4th 2011
Donald E. Stevens Convention Center
Rosemont, IL

2011 "Spring Members Show" - April 5th - May 13th
Daddy's Coffee
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2010 "Winter Members Show" - Nov 23rd 2010 - Jan 7th 2011
The Enigma of the Swingset won Honorable Mention
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

David Leonardis Gallery
Nov. 1st - Dec. 31st 2010
3226 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL

2nd Annual International Muslim Artists Exhibition
November 26 - December 31, 2010 at the Zeitgeist Multidisciplinary Arts Center
1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70113-1311
(504) 827-5858
City-Scape
Mortar & Pestle

Real Colors
Albaylasan 2nd Annual International Art Exhibition 2010
At the Holiday In Hotel, Khalid Hall. Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Jawaher Bint Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud
Alchemy
Lunar Cycle

2010 "Muslim Fest - Toronto" - July 31st - August 1st
Inner Workings
Lunar Cycle
Alchemy
City-Scape
Night-Scape
Mortar & Pestel
The Living Arts Center
4141 Living Arts Drive
Mississauga, ON
905.306.6100
http://www.livingartscentre.ca

2010 "Summer Members Show" - June 6th - July 16th
Inner Workings won Third Place
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2009 "Winter Members Show" - Dec. 6th - Jan. 22nd
A Fanciful Flying Machine won 'Honorable Mention'
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2009 "Best of the Best" - Sept 19th - November 8th
Alchemy won Third Place
Alliance of Fine Art
Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 W. 31st Street
Oak Brook, IL

2009 "Community Bank of Elmhurst" - Nov 2nd - November 6th
Awards will be based on public vote... hint hint, nudge nudge
Elmhurst City Center
Corner of Schiller and York streets
Elmhurst, IL

2009 "Summer Members Show" - June 20 - August 1
Mortar & Pestel
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2009 "Spring Members Show" - March 28 - May 8
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2009 "Cafe Finjan" - Sunday, March 15th 2009
Courtelyou Commons - DePaul University
2324 N. Fremont St.
Chicago, IL 60614

2008 "Fall Members Show" - Sept 20 - Oct 24
Reception October 10th - 7-9 pm
Circular Light won Third Place
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2008 "Restoration" - July 22 - August 23
Blood Kitchen won Best of Show
Alliance of Fine Art Juried Exhibition
Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 W. 31st Street, Oakbrook, IL

2008 "People's Choice Show" - May 31 - July 11
Solar Wind
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2008 "Spring Members Show" - April 26 - May 30
Alchemy won Best of Show
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2007 "Fall Members Show"
Lunar Cycle
Elmhurst Artists Guild
150 Cottage Hill
Elmhurst, IL 60126

2006 "Spring Show"
Sunlit Stairway, Blood Kitchen
Sheridan Russell Gallery
16 Crawford St., London W1H 1BS
United Kingdom

2005 "Fall Show"
Square Light, Circular Light
Sheridan Russell Gallery
16 Crawford St., London W1H 1BS
United Kingdom