Michael James Clancy was born in 1950 in Toronto, Canada, and resides and works in Toronto’s “Corktown” neighbourhood. He refined his creative pursuits—photography, illustration, typography, design, writing, directing, filmmaking, music—during a 40-year career as an Advertising Agency Art Director, Creative Director, and Commercials Film Director. While working on some of the most recognizable brands in the world Michael was based in New York, USA; London, U.K.; Frankfurt, Germany; and Toronto, Canada. He returned to drawing exclusively in 2020.

His large, highly detailed drawings of 19th and early 20th century structures, mostly within walking distance of his studio, reflect his pursuit of “Realism” as defined by Lucien Freud – “Look. See. Investigate. Record.” In his work, he strives to bring the viewer to a specific place in the history of a highly urban environment—“There’s beauty in the details. All you need to do is look”—evoking nostalgia, a Zen-like stillness, and the odd tension of a captured moment just before it disappears forever.

Michael “investigates” his subjects—he might check city property records, or historical writings, or newspaper stories from the time of construction through the life of the subject—to create the image he seeks. His own recollections of growing up in the city (he’s a fifth generation Torontonian) and the stories he heard from his grandparents and parents add a personal filter to his work. His process involves a daily walking meditation, studying, for example, the way light falls on potential subjects during different times during the day and he might return to the same subject many times to record reference images of light and shadow.

Michael J. Clancy is exclusively represented by Gallery 8 on Salt Spring Island.