Michael Shores

Born 1956 in North Reading Massachusetts. In 1963 the family moved to New Mexico. The area would have a profound effect on his art especially his drawing and paintings. While in second grade in 1964 he produced his first political art-an anti Goldwater comic book, which he brought to school much to his teacher's dismay. She was for the candidate. Also around this period a drawing of Jack and the Beanstalk was included in a competition for a tile wall of children's drawings that was erected in the local library. Later moved to city hall, this wall still stands in Alamogordo NM today.
 

His family moved back to Massachusetts while he was in high school and it was here he became more serious about art and music. He did cartoon illustrations for the school's humor magazine, Gargoyle.
 

Attended Massachusetts College of Art where he majored in painting. Ironically though it was during his time there that he would abandon painting in favor of collage and drawing. He produced his first major collections of collages during this period and met fellow artists who would soon comprise the Punkt/Data Gallery collective and who would produce Skunk Piss Magazine (1977-80). Besides Shores the other artists in the group were, Magnus Johnstone, Susan Bennett, Jan Johnson, Brian Curran and Margaret and Mark Flynn. This group who eventually lived together proved to be very influential in the underground art scene of Boston. Aside from group and solo exhibitions at their gallery located in Boston's Historic North End they would also create and stage plays and participate in guerrilla art activities.

In 1979 Shores was a victim of a near fatal shooting that occurred at the gallery. He withdrew from the Punkt/Data group at this time and began focusing on playing music. With fellow artist, Jan Johnson he formed the first of several groups which would feature mostly improvisational music of a distinctively raw variety.
 

In 1981 he met Angela Mark who would become his soul mate and artistic partner.
 

In 1988 they joined forces with Andrew Guthrie and formed 88 Room, an art gallery in Allston, part of Boston. The gallery was highly popular and they continued to participate in the venture until 1990 when they would amicably break from Guthrie due to different artistic visions. Guthrie took over the gallery at that time.

 In 1991 he returned to painting, an activity that he had abandoned for more than 15 years.  He produced many solo exhibitions with various themes as Tyrants and Dictators and Cannibalism and Vampires. During this period he was part of a stable of artists represented by Arts and More Gallery. However, the art dealer in charge of that venue proved to be shady as well as unsuccessful.
 

He teamed again with Angela with a series of collaborative paintings, The Bizarre World of Kinky Sex. These paintings were exhibited many times and some of them were eventually published in the volume, The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today Vol.1 that was published by Erotic Signature.

 Shores' art has been used for illustrations in numerous magazines books and cds. He continues to exhibit and to pursue music. Currently he is producing a volume of cds chronicling his musical history of the last 30 years.