Graves is a nationally-recognized, plein-air artist based in central Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, Graves has received over 85 awards and medals and has been featured in numerous books and publications, including the New York Times, American Artist, and the Best of Oil Painting.  He was recently inducted into the Guild of Boston Artists and is a long-time member of the Rockport, Hudson Valley, Old Lyme Art, and North Shore Art Associations and Allied Artists Professional League.

Painting in oils and working on location, Graves’s work has been displayed in dozens of galleries throughout the United States and is included in the permanent collection of the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. His paintings were selected eight times for the National Arts for the Parks competitions of the Top 100 Paintings of National Parks. Mike Graves also has the distinct honor of having two works of art showcased at our U.S. Embassy to Nigeria (2019-2022) and U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso (2020-2023).   Artwork can be found through the Art in Embassy Program. 

Graves had little formal artistic education, but for over 30 years he was mentored by the late Cape Ann artist, Bernard Corey (1914-2000), and he is today a friend and frequent painting companion of many of the most celebrated landscape artists of New England.

EXHIBITIONS :
Academic Artists Association 1985
Blackstone Valley Art Association 1987
North Shore Art Association 1988
Rockport Art Association 1992
Salmagundi Club
Knickerbocker Art Association
Hudson Valley Art Association
Academic Artists National Exhibit
Allied Artists of America.

Articles and Publications:

• American Artist Magazine, "A Conversation with Michael Graves," February 1988. Graves was featured on the cover of the magazine with an article by well known Cape Ann artist and author, Charles Movalli. 

• The New York Times, "Art Reviews: A Three Way View: Old, New, and Arresting - Mentor and Friend: The Late Bernard Corey and Michael Graves," March 7, 2004.  

• The Best of Oil Paintings, edited by Tom Nicholas, Rockport Publishing Company, 1995. Three of Graves’s paintings were featured alongside many of America's most prominent landscape artists.  

• New Hampshire Summer Colonies, Dublin and Cornish, Paul Tuller and Maureen Ahern. Graves was featured on the cover.  

• Island Light, Monhegan Island. 

• Island Light, Isle of Shoals. 

AWARDS/PRIZES

Towne Gallery Award 1985;
Bernard Corey Special Award from Blackstone Valley Art Association 1987;
Elsie Reinert Memorial Award 1988 (North Shore Art Association);
Arnold Banning Award 1989, 1990 (Blackstone Valley Art Association);
Frank Van Steen Memorial Award 1989 (Hudson Valley Art Association);
Guild of Boston Artists 1989;
American Artist Magazine Award 1990;
Maurice E. Goldberg Memorial Award 1990 (Rockport Art Association);
Harry Ballinger Award 1992 (Rockport Art Association);
Eastern Container Corporation Award 1993;
John L. Cooley Memorial Award 1994 (Rockport Art Association);
National Park Academy of the Arts ;
One of top 100 United States Paintings 1994;
Grumbacher Gold Medal 1995 (Salmagundi Club);
Allied Artists of America Silver Medal 1995;
Art Students League 1996;
Florence Lonsford Award 1996;
Helen VanWyk Memorial Medal 1996;
Elliot Luskin Memorial Award 1996;
Lee M.Loeb Memorial Award 1997;
Best of Show : Images of Blackstone Waterways 1997 (Massachusetts Audubon Society);
Marine Art Award 1998 (National Park Academy of the Arts).

Biography Source: mikegravesgallery.com / Biography from Butler Institute of American Art