Michael Vaynman has worked in numerous sculpting mediums such as clay, plaster, synthetic resins and steel. However stainless steel and bronze are his preferred materials due to their permanence and high quality. Michael has worked as a professional artist since 2001, specialising in figurative and abstract bronze and stainless steel sculpture. He has also run sculpting workshops, since 2011, as a tutor at the prestigious private Sydney institutions such as Tom Bass Studio Sculpture School, Erskineville and Workshop Arts Centre, Willoughby. Michael produces all his own bronzes, overseeing each process from start to finish. His skill in sculpting and associated techniques in mouldmaking and casting has led him to create a successful Mouldmaking and Art casting Studio based in the Central Coast, NSW. This studio now helps produce unique original sculptures for over 20 Australian artists.Artist Statement"I create sculpture that explores notions of beauty, the Sublime and that indefinable, poetic nature of the human condition. My interest is in the synthesis of geometries with organic forms such as the human figure. The structure ofmy work lays in the interplay of line and shape and how that relates to the entirety of the whole form. The main intention of my art is to bring quiet contemplation to the mind and involve the person in the aesthetic experience".Exhibitions and AwardsNumerous solo and group exhibitions over the years with Maree Mizon Gallery, House of Phillips Fine Art, Makers Mark, Galleria Aniela, Soho Gallery and Tighes Hill Gallery.Solo/major exhibitions at: Tighes Hill Gallery, Newcastle, 2006 House of Phillips Fine Art, Mosman, 2008 Maree Mizon Gallery, Woollahra, 2008 Soho Gallery, Woolloomooloo, 2010 Art Studios Gallery, Gosford, 2016Highly commended - French Rendezvous Sydney 2006 The Franco Belgiorno-Nettis Transfield Holdings Prize 2008 The Sculptors Society prize for abstract sculpture 2013 Gosford Art Prize finalist 2013 Harbour Sculpture finalist 2014 Gosford Art Prize finalist 2015 Gosford Art Prize finalist 2016 Gosford Art Prize highly commended prize winner 2017 *Several of Michael's Sculptures were picked for and featured in the film Mao's Last Dancer 2009.