Michael Armstrong
https://michaelarmstrong.com.au/
Michael Armstrong is a figurative artist, painter, and art photographer whose work passionately explores the human form and the complexities of the human condition. His practice delves into emotive allegories, addressing themes of love, loss, pain, shame, and hope, with a focus on conveying deep inner emotional expression rather than mere external representation. Drawing from real-life experiences, literary influences, and personal psychological symbolism, Armstrong’s contemporary works reflect a strong social conscience, engaging with humanitarian issues and the veteran experience. His art captures fleeting moments while reflecting a lifetime of insight. Born in 1976 near Melbourne, Victoria, Armstrong developed an early passion for art and literature, nurtured by his mother, Lynne, through visits to galleries and libraries. His adolescence was marked by a constant pursuit of sketching, reading, and writing, alongside a dedication to martial arts, particularly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), which he continues to practice and teach. After graduating from Niddrie Secondary College in 1994 with a dux in art and studio art, his work was exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria as part of the VCE Top Arts exhibition. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts – Painting from the University of Ballarat in 1997, influenced by painters Doug Wright and Iain Reid.
Armstrong’s 23-year career in the Australian Defence Force, including four operational tours, profoundly shapes his artistic practice. His service-inspired works explore themes of sacrifice and service, notably his 2016 collection, including Relics of Decay, exhibited with performance art to challenge the marginalisation of war art and unify his dual identity as artist and veteran. This exploration formed the core of his Master of Arts – Creative Arts exegesis, completed at the University of Southern Queensland in 2016. That same year, he earned a Master’s of Engineering – Cyber from the University of New South Wales and received the Marie Ellis OAM Prize for Drawing for Traits of the Living (Dying). His work has since been recognised as a finalist in prestigious awards, including the Queensland Figurative Art Prize (2016), Manning Art Prize (2017), Australian War Memorial Napier Waller Art Prize (2018, 2020), and Tom Bass Figurative Art Prize (2020).
Armstrong’s experience with post-traumatic stress (PTS) from military service led to his critically acclaimed photographic series Voices of Veterans (2021). This collection of 52 works portrays veterans covered in molasses—a metaphor for the weight of PTSD—capturing their personal narratives of despair, healing, and hope. Exhibited across Australia, the series, supported by patrons His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, is now a veteran health initiative in partnership with the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM).Currently based in Canberra, Armstrong works from a professional studio at the Australian National Capital Artists facility. As an Artist in Residence at the University of Canberra (2023), he bridges art and engineering to challenge research outcomes through a moral and philosophical lens. His recent works include figurative sculptures in Italian oil-based clay, focusing on diverse female forms. Armstrong is pursuing a PhD exploring the impact of robotics and AI on humankind. A dedicated BJJ black belt, he also founded Rogue BJJ in 2024 to promote mental and physical health through martial arts. As an active mentor, he collaborates with galleries, universities, and organisations, fostering dialogue through his multidisciplinary expertise.
