Armin Mersmann was born in Remscheid, Germany, in 1955. Along with his parents, he immigrated to the United States in 1962. He grew up in an artistic environment and was greatly influenced and tutored by his father, Fritz, a successful oil painter. Mersmann feels his career as an artist was inevitable: “I never made the conscious choice to be an artist, it’s just what I did.” After six years of college, Mersmann began a very successful stint as a portrait artist in Chicago, IL. Although commission work was financially rewarding, he stopped doing it and soon found more interest in the fine arts—work that at times is controversial but more satisfying conceptually. “Art, my sanctuary, the very thing that gave me such pleasure, was now reduced to making a living. Art is too precious for me to make decisions based on finances.” This does not mean Mersmann will never do a commissioned portrait; rather, it has to interest him conceptually, and he insists on total control over the image.
Although Mersmann is mainly known for his intense naturalistic graphite drawings, he also works in photography and encaustic wax, which is much more abstract than his drawings. “My interests have become exceedingly experimental with more attention placed on the surfaces of the work itself. Discovering and rediscovering my chosen medium is the everlasting stimulus that keeps me interested and excited. Accidental process and meticulous planning co-mingle in all my work. Texture, either real or illusionary, and that one ever-elusive brushstroke, the one that says it all; this keeps me searching and exploring.”
Mersmann has taught drawing, the Creative Process, iPhoneography and Advanced Critique at the American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL; the Colorado Academy of Art, Boulder CO; Northwood University, Midland, MI; the Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, MI; and countless workshops within the United States. He lives in Midland, MI, where he is the Senior Visual Art Curator and Artist in Residence at Midland Center for the Arts. He shares a studio with his wife, Valerie Allen, who is an accomplished artist in her own right.
Major Awards
Muskegon Art Center Best in Graphite 2016, 2015, 2014ArtPrize VIII Top 25, 5th Center City 2016ArtPrize VI Fourth Place 2014Grand Rapids Art Museum ArtPrize Encore II 2013ArtPrize V Top 100 2013Grand Rapids Art Museum ArtPrize Encore 2012ArtPrize IV Top 100 2012BBAC, MI, Second Place 2012ArtPrize III Top 25 2011ArtPrize II Top 50 2010ArtPrize I Top 50 200945TH Greater Michigan Excellence in Technique Award 200545TH Greater Michigan Viewer’s Choice 2005Left Bank Gallery, Second Place 2005Saginaw Art Museum, MI Best of Show 2004, 1996Studio 23, MI Viewer’s Choice 2003Kline Gallery, NM Award of Excellence 2003Saginaw Township Hall, MI Best of Show 2002BBAC, MI, MI Award of Excellence 2002Studio 23, MI Award of Merit 2001Vermont Studio Center, IL Full Fellowship 1999Wilmette Public Library, IL Solo Show Award 1996Art Center of Arlington Heights Best of Show 1995, 1994College of Lake County, IL Best of Show 1994Saginaw Art Museum, MI First Place 1994, 1992, 1990Crosscuts, MI First Place 1992Trenton State College, NJ Award of Merit 1992Art Center of Battle Creek, MI Second Place 1991Krasel Art Center, MI Viewer’s Choice 1991Flint Art Source, MI Best of Show 1990Studio 23, MI First Place 1990, 1989, 1987Artist Magazine Top 100 Portrait Artists 1990, 1994Left Bank Gallery, MI First Place 1989, 1988, 1987Central Michigan University, MI Best of Show 1988, 1987Mt. Pleasant All Area, MI First Place 1988, 1987Saginaw Art Museum, MI Second Place 198725TH Mid-Michigan Art Exh. MI Second Place 1987Saginaw Valley University, MI First Place 1987Twenty-six honorable mentions in a variety of juried shows.
• Completed over 700 paintings and drawings
• Included in 350 private, corporate and public art collections.
• Completed over 250 portrait commissions.
• Have been included in over 150 juried exhibitions.
• Have had over 40 solo exhibitions.
• Have won over 50 awards in exhibitions
Since 1985Major award 1990 -2020
• Muskegon Art Center Best in Graphite 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014,2019,2023• Manifest Gallery Drawing International Annual 12 “Second Place” 2019
• Manifest Gallery Full Fellowship one-year residency 2018-2019
• ArtPrize VIX Top 25, 2016
• ArtPrize VIII Top 25, 5th Center City 2016
• ArtPrize VI Fourth Place 2014
• Grand Rapids Art Museum ArtPrize Encore II 2013
• ArtPrize V Top 100 2013
• Grand Rapids Art Museum ArtPrize Encore 2012
• ArtPrize IV Top 50 2012
• ArtPrize III Top 25 2011
• ArtPrize II Top 50 2010
• ArtPrize I Top 50 2009
• 45TH Greater Michigan Excellence in Technique Award 2005
• 45TH Greater Michigan Viewer’s Choice 2005
• Left Bank Gallery, Second Place 2005
• Saginaw Art Museum, MI Best of Show 2004, 1996
• Studio 23, MI Viewer’s Choice 2003
• Kline Gallery, NM Award of Excellence 2003
• Saginaw Township Hall, MI Best of Show 2002
• BBAC, MI, MI Award of Excellence 2002
• Studio 23, MI Award of Merit 2001
• Vermont Studio Center, IL Full Fellowship 1999
• Wilmette Public Library, IL Solo Show Award 1996
• Art Center of Arlington Heights Best of Show 1995, 1994
• College of Lake County, IL Best of Show 1994
• Saginaw Art Museum, MI First Place 1994, 1992
• Crosscuts, MI First Place 1992
• Trenton State College, NJ Award of Merit 1992
• Art Center of Battle Creek, MI Second Place 1991
Solo and Two Person Exhibits (after 2000)
• Manifest Gallery (A Walk in the Woods) Cincinnati OH. 2016
• Northwood Gallery Midland MI, 2016
• Prairie State College (Aspects of Realism) Highland Park IL. 2016
• Alma College with Valerie Allen Alma MI. 2016
• Studio 23 with Tim Ricketts (an Overview) Bay City MI, 2015
• Saginaw Art Museum (Gabriella) Saginaw MI, 2015
• Midland Center for the Arts (Gabriella) Midland MI, 2015
• Northwood Gallery with Valerie Allen Midland MI, 2013
• Mark Gallery, Englewood NJ, 2013
• Left Bank Gallery Flint MI, 2013
• Newago Art Center Solo Fremont MI. 2012
• Trenton State College, Trenton NJ, 2012
• St Francis University Solo Fort Wayne IN, 2010
• Richard App Gallery Solo Grand Rapids MI, 2010
• Eastern Illinois University Solo St. Charles IL. 2009
• Baylor University with Richard Ash Waco TX, 2008
• Central Michigan University Solo Mt Pleasant MI, 2008
• Southwestern Michigan College Solo Dowagiac MI, 2007
• Northwood Gallery with Valerie Allen Midland MI, 2005
• Saginaw Valley State U. with Valerie Allen Saginaw MI, 2004
• Kline Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2003
• American Academy of Art Solo Chicago IL, 2000
• Northwood Gallery with B. B. Winslow Midland MI, 2000Group Exhibits (after 2000)
Rain, Water, Fog Midland Center for the Arts Midland MI, 1917Midland Center for the Arts, (faculty) Midland, MI, 2000 - 2016ArtPrize VIII, DeVos Place Grand Rapids, MI, 2016“Magnitude 7” Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH, 2016“FOTOFOCUS” Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH, 2016Michigan Regional Exhibition Muskegon, MI, 2016“Pink” Midland Center for the Arts Midland, MI 2016ArtPrize VII, Calvin College Grand Rapids, MI 2015Michigan Regional Exhibition Muskegon, MI 2015“Neither There nor Here” Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH 2016Birmingham/Bloomfield Birmingham, MI 2015“Drawn” Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH 2014ArtPrize VI, Amway Grand Grand Rapids, MI 2014Michigan Regional Exhibition Muskegon, MI 2014“Human Form” Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, MI 2014ArtPrize V, The B.O.B. Grand Rapids, MI 2013Birmingham/Bloomfield, Birmingham, MI 2013ArtPrize IV, The Spot Grand Rapids, MI 2013“Out of the Gray” Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH 2012Birmingham/Bloomfield, Birmingham, MI 2012“Black and White Affair” Gallery 515 , Clare, MI 2011ArtPrize III, Grand Rapids Art Museum Grand Rapids, MI 2011“All Michigan” Birmingham/Bloomfield, Birmingham, MI 2010“Tempo” Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH 2010ArtPrize II, Grand Rapids Public Museum Grand Rapids, MI 2010ArtPrize I, WMCAT Grand Rapids, MI 2009“Resistance to Vision Manifest Gallery Cincinnati OH 2012“Artists form the Rust Belt” Buckhem Gallery Flint, MI 2007Battle Creek, Battle Creek, MI 2007Birmingham/Bloomfield, Birmingham, MI 2005Saginaw Art Museum Saginaw, MI 2004New American Drawings III, Santa Fe, NM 2004Old Masters/New Masters Santa Fe, NM 2003Studio 23, (juried, regional) Bay City, MI 2003New American Drawings II, Santa Fe, NM 2003General Motors Annual, Mt. Clements , MI 2003Eastern Michigan U., Ypsilanti, MI 2003Eclipsegroup Midland, MI 2003Studio 23 Bay City, MI 2002S.C. Johnson, Bay City, MI 2002State of the Art Saginaw, MI 2002Birmingham/Bloomfield, Birmingham, MI 2002Northwood Gallery, Midland, MI 2002Studio 23, Bay City, MI 2001Eastern Michigan U., Ypsilanti, MI 2001Gallery 212, Ann Arbor, MI 2001Gallery 212, Ann Arbor, MI 2001Gallery 212, Ann Arbor, MI 2000Midland Center for the Arts Midland, MI 2000Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw, MI 2000Colfax Cultural Center, South Bend, IN 2000Elgin Community College, Elgin, IL 2000Vermont Studio Center, Johnston, VT 2000American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL 2000
Armin Mersmann Professional history
Professional Fine Artist 45 years
Artist in Residence 1 year Manifest Drawing Center, Cincinnati OH
Artist in Residence 8 years Midland Center for the Arts, Vermont Studio Center
Studio School Manager 18 years Midland Center for the Arts
Manger of Installation 12 years Midland Center for the Arts
Graphic Artist 16 years Midland Center for the Arts
Commission Portrait Artist 4 years Portraits Chicago IL
Professional Picture Framer/Manager 8 years Goods, Evanston IL 3 years Coopers, Saginaw MI
Art Instructor 35 years Midland Center for the Arts
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Association
American Academy of Art Chicago
Evanston Art Center
Baylor University
University of Eastern Illinois
Art Academy of Colorado
Education
1955 - Present Self Taught
1999 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
Residency
1981 - 1983 Mal Akademie Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
Apprenticeship program
1979 - 1981 Delta College University Center, Michigan