Michael J Hartwig
Hartwig is a Provincetown-based artist whose original oil paintings include seascapes, landscapes, winterscapes, and cityscapes.
Originally trained as an academic, he embarked on a creative path in painting and writing more than twenty years ago. Two places have influenced his work – the light and setting of Cape Cod where he lives, and the history, art, and beauty of Italy where he resided for five years and continues to spend time.
His art is inspired by Robert Cardinal, one of the foremost artists of Provincetown. Hartwig took a week-long workshop with him in 2008, bringing his work to new maturity.
Hartwig, like many other local artists, captures the unique light that bathes Cape Cod, particularly off-season or early/late in the day when the sunlight deepens in hues and casts long shadows over the land.
His work is both representational yet clean and modern – focusing on form, color, light, and texture. His style is highlighted by playful cottages and wharfs, and he has a special gift for capturing the undulations of the dunes where bright green grass is tossed by the gentle breezes coming off the ocean.
Hartwig has a work-studio on the second floor of Whaler’s Wharf in Provincetown and is represented by On Center Gallery. He writes LGBTQ+ romance fiction, which is itself deeply influenced by art, archaeology, and cultural paradigms.
Here’s a brief artist’s statement from an interview in 2024:
“I enjoy the creativity and inspiration of Provincetown and the amazing community of artists drawn to the Cape. In my paintings, I want to transport people to this special place. I want people to feel the warmth of the sunlight and the gentle breezes blowing across the dune grass. I love the intense color of light at the beginning and end of the day, reflecting off wharfs, barns, cottages, lighthouses, and boats. I want to convey the serenity and soulfulness I feel while I’m painting, the way in which an image begins to take shape and form on the canvas almost as if by magic.”
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,
and paints his own nature into his pictures.
Henry Ward Beecher
Click here to see Review of work in Provincetown Independent - December 2021
History of Art Exhibitions
2009 SoWa Open Studios, Boston, 2009 United South End Artists Open Studios, 2009 Juried Exhibition - Boston Arts Festival, 2010 United South End Artists Open Studios, 2010 Juried Exhibition - Atlanta Fine Arts League, 2011 United South End Artists Small Pieces Exhibition at OKW Gallery, 2011 Solo Exhibition at Peconic Vineyards - July - Artist of the Month, 2012 United South End Open Studios, 2013 Art Essex Gallery, 2013 United South End Open Studios, 2013 Juried Exhibition - Art Essex Gallery Invitational, 2014 New Works - October Exhibition - Art Essex Gallery, 2016 - Open Studio Event - Provincetown, 2017 - Members Open - PAAM - Provincetown. On Center Gallery - Provincetown. Member of Provincetown Art Association and Museum. 2018 - Represented by On Center Gallery, Provincetown- "Locals" exhibition in Aug. 2018 - Represented by On Center Gallery, Provincetown. "Locals" exhibition in Aug. 2019. GLAD live auction - July 27. "Virtual Connections" - On Center Gallery - May 2020. “Locals Show” at On Center Gallery - August 2020. Open Studio events - Oct. 30, Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 2021. Featured show at On Center Gallery, August 2022.