Michael Alm is a Seattle based mixed media sculptor. His lifelike and intricate animal anatomy studies address wildness, native nature, and the dynamics of animal movement. Each sculpture is imbued with his passion for wildlife and anatomy. As much as Alm's work is about animal physiology it is also about the presentation of the specimen itself. His sculptures take cues from scientific models, and taxidermy dioramas, and extrapolate what makes the forms dynamic, interesting, and informative. Wood shavings, veneers, and carved elements, are used as surrogates for the fur, sinew and bone. In much the same way naturalists find ways to preserve and reanimate specimens, Alm uses the tools at his disposal to find methods that effectively represent these creatures and create a sense of wonder around them.

Inspired by biology, natural history, and exploration, Alm spends much of his time researching animal anatomy, and reading biographies of the naturalists who have expanded this field. His work is deeply inspired by his time spent studying in the mammals collection at the Burke Museum in Seattle, Washington.

Alm's work has been featured in a number of nationally recognized galleries including Ghost Gallery, Roq La Rue Gallery, Hellion Gallery, and Modern Eden Gallery as well as the Bellevue Art Museum. Alm holds a BFA in sculpture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Selected Exhibitions

The Mammals of Washington, Ghost Gallery, Seattle, WA May 2019

Making Our Mark, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA, Nov 2017 - April 2018

Ghost Gallery Presents: Michael Alm, Ghost Gallery, Seattle, WA May 2017

Charismatic Megafauna, Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA, December 2016

Platinum Blend, Curated by Platinum Cheese, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA. Jan 2015

Lo Fi 2014//Ad Hoc, music and arts festival, Smoke Farm, Arlington, WA. Sep 2014

Imagine That: Surprising Stories, and Amazing Objects from the Burke, The Burke Museum Seattle, WA. Apr – Oct, 2014

Reverse Engineered, Part 1: Hellion Gallery, Portland, OR. Feb 2014
Part 2 Antler, Portland, OR. Feb 2014

Feral Creatures, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA. Jan 2014
Review by Jeremy Buben, Art Nerd
Interview by Kim Larson, Modern Eden Gallery

Connected, Cuchifritos Gallery, New York, NY. Nov 2013

Anima: Michael Alm, Crystal Barbre, and Kirsten Anderson
A LxWxH subscription project, LxWxH Gallery, Seattle, WA. Sept 2013

Vermillion Presents: Michael Alm and Robin Crookall,
Vermillion, Seattle, WA. 2012

Small Voids curated by Todd Jannausch,
Seattle, WA / Portland, OR / Oakland, CA. 2012-13

Lush Life Four, Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2012

PangeaSeed's The Great West Coast Migration. 2012
Seattle, WA / Portland, OR / San Francisco, CA / Los Angeles, CA
Costa Mesa, CA / San Diego, CA

Lush Life 3, Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2011

The Matryoshka Show curated by Michael Alm,
Ghost Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2011

Ecotone, Ghost Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2010

Print Zero Print Exchange 7, (juried exhibition) Print Zero. 2010
Seattle, WA / Miami, FL / Chicago, IL

Perceptions of Character curated by Lauren Testa and Laura Cali,
Littlefield Performance and Art Space, Brooklyn, NY. 2010

Cryptomenagerie: Michael Alm, Zoe Williams, and Jody Joldersma,
Vermillion, Seattle, WA. 2010

Bad Words curated by Chris Crites, Twilight Arts Collective,
Seattle, WA. 2009

The Artists of Artech, The Wright Exhibition Space, Seattle, WA. 2009

Print Zero Print Exchange 6, Print Zero. 2009
Seattle, WA / Chicago, IL / Buffalo, NY

Animal Retentive, (solo exhibition) Neptune Coffee, Seattle, WA. 2009

Art Night at Twilight curated by Kelly Lyles, Twilight Arts Collective,
Seattle, WA. 2009

Unnatural Selection, (solo exhibition) Some Space Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2008