“He was always an unusual bird. But now he could feel himself changing. Into what though? He didn’t know. It was too dark to see. So he did what he always did. He sang about it. Maybe this time someone would hear him.”

Michael Flaherty (ChipNipple) was invited to collaborate with Professor George Wolberg, an artist, engineer, and inventor, whose PINTILLISM technique handcrafts bold, dimensional images from fields of small, galvanized metal pins.

On the surface, Flaherty’s colorful, figurative work might seem at odds with Wolberg’s careful studies in light, shadow, and density. But in these collaborative pieces, the artists seamlessly fuse their different approaches to texture and detail, playing with audience perspective to create images that leap off the walls in keen and surprising ways.

This series of canvases highlights two of Flaherty’s most common subjects: birds and isotype hearts, based on his self-designed tattoos. It is Wolberg and Flaherty’s first collaborative series, but the two artists continue to experiment with new ways of blending their distinctive styles.

What is PINTILLISM?

George’s PINTILLISM art is composed of thousands of small pins placed in an exact sequence so that together they form an image.

It is the viewers eye’s and brain that, together with light, fill in the blanks so that a perfect picture is seen with subtle details and shadows. The results are innovative and dramatic.

More information about PINTILLISM can be found here: https://wolbergstudio.com/

“Bird Bottles” were crude mood-altering devices, primarily used during the 18th century in experimental therapies and stage-magic performances.”

Michael Flaherty (ChipNipple) was invited to collaborate with Professor George Wolberg, an artist, engineer, and inventor, whose PINTILLISM technique handcrafts bold, dimensional images from fields of small, galvanized metal pins.

On the surface, Flaherty’s colorful, figurative work might seem at odds with Wolberg’s careful studies in light, shadow, and density. But in these collaborative pieces, the artists seamlessly fuse their different approaches to texture and detail, playing with audience perspective to create images that leap off the walls in keen and surprising ways.

This series of canvases highlights two of Flaherty’s most common subjects: birds and isotype hearts, based on his self-designed tattoos. It is Wolberg and Flaherty’s first collaborative series, but the two artists continue to experiment with new ways of blending their distinctive styles.

What is PINTILLISM?

George’s PINTILLISM art is composed of thousands of small pins placed in an exact sequence so that together they form an image.

It is the viewers eye’s and brain that, together with light, fill in the blanks so that a perfect picture is seen with subtle details and shadows. The results are innovative and dramatic.

More information about PINTILLISM can be found here: https://wolbergstudio.com/

“There are eight million stories in the Sticky City. This is one of them.”

Michael Flaherty (ChipNipple) was invited to collaborate with Professor George Wolberg, an artist, engineer, and inventor, whose PINTILLISM technique handcrafts bold, dimensional images from fields of small, galvanized metal pins.

On the surface, Flaherty’s colorful, figurative work might seem at odds with Wolberg’s careful studies in light, shadow, and density. But in these collaborative pieces, the artists seamlessly fuse their different approaches to texture and detail, playing with audience perspective to create images that leap off the walls in keen and surprising ways.

This series of canvases highlights two of Flaherty’s most common subjects: birds and isotype hearts, based on his self-designed tattoos. It is Wolberg and Flaherty’s first collaborative series, but the two artists continue to experiment with new ways of blending their distinctive styles.

What is PINTILLISM?

George’s PINTILLISM art is composed of thousands of small pins placed in an exact sequence so that together they form an image.

It is the viewers eye’s and brain that, together with light, fill in the blanks so that a perfect picture is seen with subtle details and shadows. The results are innovative and dramatic.

More information about PINTILLISM can be found here: https://wolbergstudio.com/

“Around and around you spin, falling further and further, flipped upside down and helplessly careening off the walls. Debris whips past you as the wind picks up. You are getting nauseous. You are about to be sick.”

Michael Flaherty (ChipNipple) was invited to collaborate with Professor George Wolberg, an artist, engineer, and inventor, whose PINTILLISM technique handcrafts bold, dimensional images from fields of small, galvanized metal pins.

On the surface, Flaherty’s colorful, figurative work might seem at odds with Wolberg’s careful studies in light, shadow, and density. But in these collaborative pieces, the artists seamlessly fuse their different approaches to texture and detail, playing with audience perspective to create images that leap off the walls in keen and surprising ways.

This series of canvases highlights two of Flaherty’s most common subjects: birds and isotype hearts, based on his self-designed tattoos. It is Wolberg and Flaherty’s first collaborative series, but the two artists continue to experiment with new ways of blending their distinctive styles.

What is PINTILLISM?

George’s PINTILLISM art is composed of thousands of small pins placed in an exact sequence so that together they form an image.

It is the viewers eye’s and brain that, together with light, fill in the blanks so that a perfect picture is seen with subtle details and shadows. The results are innovative and dramatic.

More information about PINTILLISM can be found here: https://wolbergstudio.com/

This is very early on but it’s from a dream I had about human sized penguins living in an encampment down the block from the studio at Rubulad. Some teenagers were harassing them and the penguins figured out how to throw bottles at them. The penguins were dressed like vaudeville tramps.

“A tale of avian cunning and intrigue”

In the heart Fishers Island, a rare Ring-necked Pheasant vanished without a trace. Its disappearance puzzled even the most seasoned of birdwatchers. Whispered tales spoke of a mysterious figure lurking among the shadows. As investigators combed the woods, they uncovered a trail of shimmering feathers leading to an abandoned cabin deep in the thicket. Inside, they found the pheasant perched majestically atop a treasure trove of stolen jewels, its iridescent plumage reflecting the dim light. The mystery of the missing pheasant was solved, revealing a tale of avian cunning and intrigue.

“A dynamic period in the near future”

“Harmony across generations of Gowanus birds; mutated and non-mutated. A balance between urban and natural landscape. Equilibrium. A future where Black Mayonnaise is just a name for a savory local vegan spread. Canoes. Resilience. Living across generations, Bird does not experience a static utopia, but sees a dynamic period in the near future where this resource is sustained, and maintained. Joy.”

*Selected for inclusion in the 2022 Arts Gowanus Brooklyn Utopias Exhibition

“A bird with iridescent feathers perched high…”

“In the midst of a lush, vibrant jungle, a regal bird with iridescent feathers perched high on a branch, its sharp eyes surveying the land with a knowing gaze. Each plume shimmered with the colors of distant empires, a living tapestry of the world’s power struggles, woven through its graceful form. As it spread its wings, the air buzzed with an electric tension, the bird embodying the seductive allure of diplomacy—a delicate dance of influence, desire, and control. In that fleeting moment, the jungle became a theater of imperial ambition, where every flutter of the bird's wings whispered the secrets of nations and the tantalizing possibility of conquest.”

“The voluptuous curves of two perfect zeniths…”

“Amidst a riot of swirling colors and chaotic brushstrokes, the voluptuous curves of two perfect zeniths rose like twin peaks, commanding attention in a world of abstract dreams. Their soft, inviting allure stood in stark contrast to the wild energy of the background, a serene oasis of sensuality amid the storm. Every glance they drew was a moment suspended in time, a tantalizing blend of desire and art, where the boundaries between the tangible and the imagined blurred. In the dance of light and shadow, they became the focal point of an irresistible fantasy, a magnetic force pulling all eyes into their captivating orbit.”

“A mesmerizing storm of desire…”

“In the frenzied whirlwind of "Crossed Wires," two towering, abstract breasts seized the canvas, their vivid hues crashing together in a mesmerizing storm of desire. Each voluptuous curve was etched in bold, pulsating strokes, radiating an electrifying intensity that drew the viewer into the piece’s untamed energy. The boundary between the real and the surreal dissolved, as the chaotic forms ignited an erotic tension that seemed to vibrate in the very air, pulling all who gazed upon it into a magnetic thrall. Within this riot of color and form, "Crossed Wires" unraveled a tale of raw, unbridled passion, where the edges of pleasure and art blurred into a dangerously seductive dance.”

“A cautionary tale”

“Portrait of a desperate character I used to conjure up and attempt capture the likeness on canvas - I once manifested him out of the ether during a train ride from Chicago to Los Angeles. He was horrible - a cautionary tale”

“ …the fragmented feathers shimmered in hues of electric blue and fiery crimson…”

“In the dimly lit gallery, the painting titled "Feathers and Fragments" pulsated with an irresistible vibrancy, its abstract forms swirling with the allure of a deconstructed bird. Each brushstroke seemed to whisper secrets of longing and liberation, as the fragmented feathers shimmered in hues of electric blue and fiery crimson. As a pair of eyes traced the intricate chaos, an unspoken connection sparked, igniting a simmering desire to unravel the passionate mystery behind the art. The painting's sensual disarray mirrored the uncharted depths of their newfound attraction, leaving them breathless and yearning for more.”

The work is part of a series created while ChipNipple was living in Chinatown, NYC. At this time I was beginning to consider visual art as a possible viable side job. I bought a few canvases that were larger than anything I had previously worked on. At the time I wondered if I would/could ever populate them within the year.”

“ …like the touch of a lover’s hand, left a trace of longing and mystery…”

“Under the flickering neon lights of a wild studio party at The ArtHole, "Do Fish Drink Water?" emerged—a riot of bright, swirling colors capturing the essence of New York Harbor. Two vividly painted fish, shimmering in electric blues and fiery oranges, seemed to flirt with each other beneath the chaos of the abstract waves. As the night grew wilder, the painting became a sensual dance of color and emotion, mirroring the intoxicated passion of the partygoers. Each brushstroke, like the touch of a lover’s hand, left a trace of longing and mystery, enticing viewers to lose themselves in its vibrant depths.”

"Springs Tide" is an abstract plein air painting on canvas depicting a majestic coastal bird amidst the vibrant tranquility of Maidstone Beach, East Hampton, NY. Created amongst the challenges of COVID-19 and cherished family vacations, this project embodies resilience and the healing power of nature.

Immersing in the water to paint, the artist connects deeply with nature's transformative essence, embracing spontaneity. Through dynamic brushstrokes, the artwork captures the avian’s essence, symbolizing the artist's journey through illness to seaside solace.

With expressive colors and gestures, "Springs Tide" offers viewers a moment of escape, reminding us of nature's healing embrace amid adversity.

“Henrietta plans her revenge .”

Michael Flaherty (ChipNipple) was invited to collaborate with Professor George Wolberg, an artist, engineer, and inventor, whose PINTILLISM technique handcrafts bold, dimensional images from fields of small, galvanized metal pins.

On the surface, Flaherty’s colorful, figurative work might seem at odds with Wolberg’s careful studies in light, shadow, and density. But in these collaborative pieces, the artists seamlessly fuse their different approaches to texture and detail, playing with audience perspective to create images that leap off the walls in keen and surprising ways.

This series of canvases highlights two of Flaherty’s most common subjects: birds and isotype hearts, based on his self-designed tattoos. It is Wolberg and Flaherty’s first collaborative series, but the two artists continue to experiment with new ways of blending their distinctive styles.

What is PINTILLISM?

George’s PINTILLISM art is composed of thousands of small pins placed in an exact sequence so that together they form an image.

It is the viewers eye’s and brain that, together with light, fill in the blanks so that a perfect picture is seen with subtle details and shadows. The results are innovative and dramatic.

More information about PINTILLISM can be found here: https://wolbergstudio.com/

Last days of Rubulad residency before hiatus. Colordrunk.

“A moment of quiet stolen from the frenzy”

"Whispers in the Hustle [Busy Season]" is a seductive dance of movement and stillness, capturing the feverish pulse of a city in full swing. Amid the swirling chaos, a lone figure pauses, bathed in the soft glow of twilight, a moment of quiet stolen from the frenzy. The painting's sharp contrasts and muted tones invite you to feel the tension between the relentless energy of the crowd and the whispered secrets hidden in the rush.

“Expressions teetering between humor and madness…”

"Clowns & Buffoons" is a dazzlingly chaotic exploration of human folly, where garish colors and exaggerated forms burst from the canvas in a wild, unsettling carnival. The painting captures the absurdity of life with a cast of grotesque, painted avian faces locked in an endless performance, their exaggerated expressions teetering between humor and madness. Each figure is both a caricature and a mirror, reflecting the ridiculous masks we all wear in the theater of our daily lives. The vivid, swirling background pulls you into a world where the line between entertainment and existential dread blurs, daring you to confront the absurd.

The painting pulsates with vivid, tones, as exaggerated forms press against each other, their lustful gazes and twisted smiles hinting at a forbidden pleasure beneath the surface.

“An unrestrained celebration of excess…”

"Blissed Out [Elation Overboard Overbore Overbroad]" is a visceral plunge into the depths of ecstasy, where the boundaries of pleasure are pushed to their exhilarating limits. The painting is a riot of intoxicating colors, with bodies entwined in a fervent embrace, their forms melting into a haze of euphoric bliss. Every brushstroke pulsates with sensual energy, capturing the wild abandon of a moment where desire overtakes reason. It's an unrestrained celebration of excess, where passion and elation blend into a dizzying, irresistible experience that leaves you breathless. Created during Rubulad residency before hiatus. ColorDrunk.

“The heart of the city a stage for erotic intrigue.”

"Central Business District" pulses with a provocative energy, transforming the mundane corporate world into a vivid playground of desire. The painting's bold, saturated colors streak across the canvas like neon lights, illuminating figures locked in an intimate dance of power and temptation. Suits and ties become symbols of dominance and seduction, as the boundaries between business and pleasure blur in a tantalizing display. Each glance and touch in this charged atmosphere hints at secret rendezvous and forbidden affairs, making the heart of the city a stage for erotic intrigue.

“…iridescent feathers brushing against bold, sensational headlines…”

"Feathers and Headlines: The Media Bird Saga" is a vivid, seductive clash of the natural and the synthetic, where vibrant plumes and glossy newsprint entwine in a tantalizing dance. The painting teases with flashes of iridescent feathers brushing against bold, sensational headlines, each stroke charged with electric sensuality. Birds with knowing, sultry eyes peer from the canvas, their wings fanning out in a flirtatious display, as if inviting you into a world where truth and temptation are indistinguishable. It’s a captivating fusion of allure and spectacle, where the media's seductive power is laid bare in all its colorful, erotic glory.