Free artist talk and presentation, followed by a Q&A moderated by Ani Mnatsakanyan, Curator of Engagement and Education at MONA.

Michael Flechtner has made a lasting mark on the artform of neon through his technical skill, mastery of the 3d neon sculpture, employment of visual puns, as well as his role mentoring future generations of neon benders. Flechtner’s best-known public work in Los Angeles is the Neon Aquarium at Olympic and Sawtelle, completed in 1998. In 1999 he became a J. Paul Getty Trust Fund Fellow. He was commissioned by the USPS in 2011 to design a postage stamp for the Forever series: the Neon Celebrate! stamp. In addition to his own work, he fabricates neon for other artists including Bruce Nauman, Laddie John Dill, Frank Romero, Stephen Antonakos, Michael Hayden, AVAF, Doug Aitken, Dan Attoe, Alexandra Grant and Betye Saar. Flechtner had an early interest in colored light and electronics, which he incorporated into some of his first artworks while a student at Columbus College. He enrolled in a 6-week neon fabricating class in Kansas, which taught him enough hands-on skills to work in a neon sign shop, after relocating to Los Angeles. He pursued commercial neon by day and his own sculptural neon by night at his own studio in Van Nuys. Flechtner is the Vice President of the Board of Directors at MONA.

During this free Zoom artist talk to learn about Michael, his art, and his journey to becoming a neon artist in an intimate, virtual setting.