Reviews | Neo BS Art

Melissa Gill Writes, by Melissa Gill

Michael K. Stark Transforms Money Obsession into Striking Art – Stark aims for his art exhibitions to be on display in Las Vegas casinos, hotels and eventually become an immersive experience. Money talks to everyone, but not the way it talks to artist Michael K. Stark. Los Angeles-born artist Michael K. Stark creates art only when he has something to say. That is why he took a 25-year hiatus from creating. Although he attained success in the L.A. art scene during the nineties, which included his artwork showing in 35 art exhibitions during that time period, it wasn’t enough to keep his interest. Instead, he switched his focus to real estate as the creator within him grew dormant. That is, until 2021. That’s when his family and friends—who encouraged him to start creating again — inspired him to illustrate a $100 bill. The California native had found a new muse, an outlet to express one of his obsessions: money. “An artist has to do something they’re obsessed with. And I guess my obsession has been money, I will freely admit that.” The sketch sparked something inside him, motivating him to speak through his craft again. Since then, Stark has conceived over 300 artworks as part of his ever-growing art exhibition, “Wall of $100s.” His striking banknote collection even features lottery tickets and flags, expanding into other symbols of wealth and good fortune. The “Wall of $100s” artist’s exhibitions have appeared throughout the Las Vegas valley, from Art Houz to Taverna Costera to The Triple Crown Cigar Bar. Of all the cities he could have chosen, Vegas embodies the abundance of luxury, opportunity, and prosperity that come along with affluency. But Stark’s love of Sin City runs deeper than the glitzy resorts and high-end restaurants —that isn’t to say he doesn’t appreciate those aspects, too. “I’m just grateful for Las Vegas. It is unlike any town in post-COVID America. For creative people, I think this is where you want to be. Whether you’re a comedian, an artist, or a musician, all the people that helped create the spectacle, that’s Las Vegas,” says Stark. “This is the ‘new’ Greenwich Village. This is the place.” Greenwich Village is a nod to the 1960s counterculture movement that took place in an artsy New York neighborhood, which is known for putting American Bohemian culture on the map in the early and mid-20th century. Not to mention that unlike other art scenes in other towns, Vegas is a young city. It is where people come for second chances. It is where people fall in love and where they fall apart. Everyone here is always searching for the next big thing. Rather than relying on traditions, Vegas is constantly reinventing itself and what it means to be the Entertainment Capital of the World. “I think in every generation, there’s been a town in the world that attracts actors and artists,” says Stark. “If you’re a creative person and you want to make a go of it, fly out here. It doesn’t cost too much to stay and pound the pavement. It worked for me.” Stark’s standout exhibition has circulated throughout Vegas, adorning several downtown venues and gaining traction from online art enthusiasts. What does he aim to manifest now that his art has found homes across the valley? Aside from opening exhibits in casinos and hotels, one of his current goals, there’s another art concept in the works. “I’d love to do a chapel; you could call it ‘Money House,’” explains Stark. “It’d be on the Strip, Fremont or nearby, where people could come, look, immerse, and meditate on manifesting greater abundance and luck into their lives.” Between the nineties and now, Stark’s life experiences have taken him down many unexpected avenues. He is married, he is a father, and he’s a businessman regularly traveling back and forth between California and Nevada. Every artist evolves as they are shaped by their life experiences, obsessions, and lessons. What would Stark share now with a younger version of himself? “Be more attuned to whatever karma is pushing you forward. If you’re doing your best and you’re pursuing where you want to be, you’re going to get there.” Michael K. Stark’s art exhibitions are currently located inside the Art Houz, Triple Crown Cigar Lounge, Vintage Vegas, and Horse Trailer Hideout. Visit his website, neobsart.com, to learn more.

Hey Las Vegas, City Cast

3 Questions With Artist Michael K. Stark: As you’ll see when you walk into the Enterprise Library Gallery this evening for his opening reception (5:30-7 p.m.), artist Michael K. Stark has a thing for money. “The Wall of $100s, Lottery Tickets, and Flags” is the fruit of his first foray into art-making after a 25-year hiatus. More of his work can be seen around downtown in the Art House Theatre, Vintage Vegas, and the Horse Trailer Hideout bar. What will viewers see in the Enterprise show? We have three new series. One is called “Wall of $100s.” One is a wall of lottery tickets. And we also have a wall of flags. “The Wall of $100s” is currently more than 300 interpretations of the $100 bill. For me it’s all about making people reflect on their relationship with money, with abundance, with luck (the lottery tickets), and about the American dream (the flags), and what that means in our day and age. After 25 years of not making art, how did you come to make work about money? I just didn’t know where to start. One evening I started doodling — I took out a $100 bill and just started sketching it. And on reflection, I realized artists do what’s dear to them; artists do what motivates them; artists do things to fulfill a need or answer a longing. Money has always been an obsession, and I couldn’t get around it. What’s it like to make art about money in a setting like Las Vegas? The capital in the world of money is Las Vegas. The capital of what you can do with money is Las Vegas. The idea of what money does to people, or could do to people — that’s Las Vegas. If you want to talk about what money’s all about, why not do it in the city that’s the capital of it?

TheLibraryDistrict.org (Las Vegas/Clark County Library District)

Michael K. Stark reimagines common subjects with unique styling and interpretation. The artist’s manipulation of the $100 bill, flags, and lottery tickets explores evolving relationships with money, luck, and the American dream. Michael K. Stark has recently returned to creating art after a 25-year hiatus. Born in Los Angeles, Stark’s journey as an artist started while living in Vienna, Austria, and then stopped 11 years later in Orange County, CA. During his first active period, the artist’s works were featured in 35 art exhibitions, 13 of which were solo shows. Stark’s second act as an artist began in late 2021 when he picked up a pen and sketched the $100 bill. That sketch gave birth to the “Wall of $100s” series. Stark developed the Wall of $100s to be exhibited specifically in Las Vegas. He believes that no city in the world has as unique of a relationship to money as Las Vegas, and that it is a town where one can truly test the limits of money and what can be done with it.

VisitVegasPlaces.com

“Michael Stark has the Las Vegas Arts District covered with money. Back again with art and wisdom. Michael Stark talks about his fifth show in the works as he is covering ground fairly quick in the Art District, Downtown Las Vegas. The Wall of $100’s and the Lottery collection is a must see if you are a local or tourist visiting the Art Houz Theater. Michael Stark gives us the background story of “the Home of the Free” art piece displayed at the Art Houz. This story is very mysterious as Michael goes in depth as one piece out of the 18 kept getting stolen, so he had to keep replacing the piece. “Totally Useless” is one of Coyal’s favorite pieces which is the first piece you will see coming up the stairs to the Art Houz Theater. Listen as Michael provides stories behind the art with Coyal. Michael K. Stark is an American artist who was active in the LA art scene in the 1990’s. During that period, his work was featured in 35 exhibitions in Southern California, 13 of which were solo shows, and 1 which lasted for 11 years at the Lunaria Jazz Bar in West LA.”

ArtsLasVegas -Instagram

“Meet Michael Stark! @MKSNewArt. He is the creator of the “Wall of $100’s” collection that you may have seen on display in a couple downtown locations! He had a show at @TavernaCostera which ended in July 2022. Currently, he has 3 active shows located at: @ArtHouzTheaters through November 2024; @ReBAR.lv through January 31, 2023; and @HorseTrailerHideout which runs indefinitely!! You must visit and see his work and get a piece for yourself! Michael is a talented artist whose frame work alone is absolutely insane! I was in awe looking at his pieces. He has a beautiful way of creating a fine art high end feel with how he displays his pieces. I’m obsessed. He’s implemented multiple forms of money into his work whether that’s cards, bills, lotto tickets, you name it. In the 90’s, he already had been in 35 art shows with his longest show lasting 11 years at Lunaria Jazz Bar in LA! Wow. In 1997, he took a break from creating for about 25 years. Feeling inspired and with his family urging him to share his work again, he dove back in and did a sketch of a $100 bill which lead to creating his collection of nearly 300 unique Benjamins, calling his collection the “Wall of $100’s.” I asked him what inspired him to do this, and he shared “everyone has their own evolving relationship with abundance and luck… I am obsessed with money and how to get it… It’s about the abundance and luck, how to get there and the manifesting of that. Finding meaning through creating.” TRUE THAT! So much resonated there for myself. I feel like many artists can relate to that message alone. Thank you for sharing your work and your message Michael! Your work is amazing.”

DTLV -Instagram

“Michael Stark (@mksnewart) found success early in his art career. His work, which centers around money and the many relationships people have with it, was shown in dozens of exhibitions in Southern California. Then, 25 years ago, he stopped. “I ran out of things to say,” he says. After a long hiatus, and encouragement from his family, he decided to revisit art last year. “I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he says. Instinctively, he sketched a $100 bill on the back of a manila folder. It would become the first of 300 takes on the $100 bill for his striking “Wall of 100s” exhibit, currently on display at @arthouztheaters. On view since July, it was recently extended through 2024. Michael marks the occasion this Friday, Nov. 18 at 5pm with a reception at Art Houz. The event also features a free comedy show. “Money touches everybody. We all have an evolving relationship with abundance and luck,” Michael says about the theme of his work. “Our relationship with money is what brings the satisfaction of our efforts, that we’re doing something to help ourselves, our friends, our family with the abundance and luck we’re blessed with.” After starting the “Wall of 100s,” the So Cal native decided to show his work “in a place where money is the capital and the capital of what you could do with money.” He started visiting Vegas last year, exploring the local community and looking for a home for his 100s — and his “Wall of Lottery Tickets” and “Wall of Flags.” “If my new stuff isn’t interesting to anybody, then just go home,” he thought. Instead, he was warmly embraced. DTLV has become a second home and he spends up to two weeks a month here. He quickly connected with the team at @tavernacostera, holding his first exhibit of his new work in June before being invited to Art Houz and @horsetrailerhideout, where his “Wall of 100s” is also featured. “It feels like a mini-Greenwich Village,” the 60-year-old artist says. “if you’re a performer, comedian, musician, artist, I would say this is Vegas’ moment more than NYC would’ve been in the 50s … It’s really invigorating.”

Vegas Near Me

Michael K. Stark is an American artist who was active in the LA art scene in the 1990’s. During that period, his work was featured in 35 exhibitions in Southern California, 13 of which were solo shows, and 1 which lasted for 11 years at the Lunaria Jazz Bar in West LA. He then ceased creating art for 25 years because he had nothing more to say. With the encouragement from family and friends, Michael decided to re-embark on his artistic journey in late 2021. Without knowing where to start, he sketched the $100 bill, which lead to creating nearly 300 pieces for the “Wall of $100’s.” Michael’s decision to debut his new work in Las Vegas was intentional, as he believes that Las Vegas is the world capital for what can be done with money. With no formal training in art, the mantra of “Meaning Through Creating” inspires his efforts as an artist. Besides the “Wall of $100’s,” Michael has also created nearly 200 new works for his 2 other new series: the “Wall of Lottery Tickets,” and “Wall of Flags.” The theme of Michael’s art is about understanding one’s own evolving relationship with money, luck, and the American Dream – and how to manifest it.

8 Pages of Reviews from the Enterprise Library Gallery, Las Vegas, NV
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