Flower Painting in Oil with Michael Klein

Michael Klein is an American realist painter, museum director, and online art instructor. Beginning his experience with oil painting at an early age, Klein eventually chose to pursue the rigorous path of atelier training rather than a traditional university education. Over seven years, he studied at three schools, the Minnesota River School of Fine Art, The Atelier in Minneapolis, and the Water Street Atelier (now the Grand Central Atelier) in New York City.

After meeting his Argentine wife, Klein relocated to South America, where his work with Arcadia Gallery helped establish his career in the realist art world. However, feeling disconnected from the American art scene, he returned to the U.S. to re-engage with his audience. Klein co-founded several art focused ventures, including American Painting Video Magazine, which documented the lives of working artists, and a collaborative community of artists located in North Carolina.

Today, Klein serves as the director of the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art in western Massachusetts. The museum, which features a permanent collection belonging to its patrons, the Barletta family, is dedicated to contemporary realist art. Klein, who first connected with the Barlettas through their acquisition of his work, now oversees the museum’s operations, acting as its director and caretaker. The museum hosts workshops by prominent artists and an annual art competition, offering a $25,000 acquisition prize.

In addition to his role at the museum, Klein teaches online art courses through Patreon and continues to create and exhibit his work. The evolution of Klein’s work mirrors the broader stylistic progression observed in the late 19th century, when artists began moving away from strict realism towards more expressive and personal art forms.