Bio / Statement

BIO
Michael Workman is a choreographer, language, visual and movement artist, dance and performance artist, writer, reporter, and sociocultural critic. In addition to his work at the Chicago Tribune, Guardian US, Newcity magazine, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio and elsewhere, Workman is also Director of Bridge, an artistic collective and 501 (c) (3) publishing and programming organization (bridge-chicago.org). His choreographic writing has been included in Propositional Attitudes, an "anthology of recent performance scores, directions and instructions" published by Golden Spike Press, and his Perfect Worlds: Artistic Forms & Social Imaginaries Vol. 1, the first in a 3-volume series, was released by StepSister Press in October 2018 with a day-long program of performances at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Most recently, two of his scores were accepted for publication in a special edition of the Notre Dame Review focusing on the work of participants in the &NOW Festival of Innovative Writing. See also: Michael Workman Studio.

STATEMENT
My artistic practice is rooted in an interdisciplinary exploration of the shifting dynamics between public and private spaces, particularly as they relate to themes of intimacy, exclusion, and access. Through choreography, movement, language, visual art, and performance, I interrogate the social frameworks that mediate human relationships, reflecting on how these structures influence or restrict critical resources and support during times of crisis. Drawing from an urbanist perspective, I situate my work within the broader context of social practice, emphasizing collaboration and community engagement as both methods and subjects.

This exploration extends into my drawing and painting practice, where themes of place and intimacy are central. Works such as Chainsaw Suicide and the Moloch series delve into the psychological and societal dimensions of violence, loss, and systemic failure, transforming the concept of place into a site of struggle, resilience, and reckoning. My ongoing graphic novel project, Pink On the Inside (also working titled "Biography of a Villain"), further expands on these ideas, combining visual and narrative elements to explore the fragmentation of self and the spiritual dimensions of lived experiences. Similarly, the Ghost Army series serves as both a public memorial and a deeply personal reflection on collective mourning, offering a framework for reimagining how we remember and honor those lost to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the AIDS epidemic.

My Active Investigations series represents an extension of these themes through performance. Presented in spaces such as the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago, these works emphasize the immediacy and vulnerability of live engagement. The series uses performance to explore embodied narratives, focusing on how the body interacts with its environment and the social structures that frame human experience. At the Neubauer Collegium, this was expressed through a site-specific exploration of movement, storytelling, and participatory engagement, designed to create dialogue between audience members and performers while breaking down traditional divisions between spectator and participant.

Active Investigations fits within the broader scope of my practice by foregrounding the body as both a medium and a subject, examining its role in negotiating intimacy, place, and exclusion. The performances often combine improvisational choreography, spoken word, and visual elements to investigate how physical and emotional presence can challenge societal stigmas and foster connection. These live engagements complement my visual and narrative work, creating a holistic practice that bridges the personal and collective, the static and the dynamic.

Across all these facets—painting, drawing, performance, and public projects—my work seeks to address complex social dynamics and foster connections that challenge exclusionary structures. By engaging with themes of intimacy, place, and collective memory, I aim to create works that not only provoke reflection but also inspire action, offering pathways for empathy, dialogue, and transformation. Whether through a painted canvas, a graphic novel panel, or a live performance, my practice is committed to exploring the boundaries of human experience and finding resonance in the spaces where we come together.