"For Michael Hambouz, who builds geometric environments and paints in delicately rendered patterns, it is the thing hiding in plain sight-a snake in the grass, one could say-that signals a confusion of reality. But the paintings are not running or hiding from reality. Instead, Hambouz deploys simplified and recognizable imagery, broken up across a three-dimensional picture plane, to unsettle expectations. This strategy of hiding realities just barely below the surface and using abstraction as a tool of obfuscation arises..."
- Laura Phipps, Associate Curator, Whitney Museum of American Art, New American Paintings, Northeast Issue #176, 2025

C’s Still Got Your T, 2026

acrylic, gouache,and wood on panel, 24" x 24" x 6”

Popeye, 2026

acrylic and wood on panel, 25" x 25-ish" x 3”

Oil of Oh No, 2026

acrylic and wood on panel, 24" x 18" x 3”

Fire!!! Crackers!, 2025

acrylic, gouache, and wood on panel, 24" x 30" x 3"

Is This Thing On? This Thing Is On!, 2025

acrylic and wood on panel, 12" x 12"

Procedural Signal (Air II), 2025

acrylic, gouache, and wood on panel, 24" x 34" x 3"

N/C, 2023

acrylic gouache and wood on panel, 30" x 40" x 3"

Psst, 2023

acrylic gouache, acrylic ink and wood on panel, 36" x 48" x 4"

sStop! Sign, 2023

acrylic gouache and wood on panel, 20" x 24" x 3"

Night Time, 2023

acrylic gouache, acrylic ink and wood on panel, 24" x 24" x 3”

Current Mood, 2022

acrylic gouache, acrylic ink, flashe and wood on panel, 36" x 36" x 3" 

B|W|R|G III, 2023

acrylic gouache on and wood on panel, 20" x 16" x 3"

B|W|R|G II, 2023

acrylic gouache and wood on panel, 24" x 24" x 3"

S in the G, 2022

acrylic, acrylic gouache, flashe, and wood on panel, 36" x 36" x 3"

B|W|R|G I, 2023

acrylic gouache and wood on panel, 12" x 12" x 2.5"

I Hope You Don’t Mime, 2023

acrylic and gouache on panel, 12" x 12"

Crossed Eyes and Dotted Teeth, 2022

acrylic gouache and wood on panel, 24" x 18" x 3"

Stacked Watts, 2022

acrylic, enamel, flashe, gouache on hand-built multidimensional wooden panel, 16” x 20” x 2.5”

Stitch Witchery, 2019

acrylic, flashe, on hand-built multidimensional wooden panel, 30" x 30" x 2.5"

Slow Glowing, 2022

acrylic, enamel, flashe, gouache on hand-built multidimensional wooden panel, 30” x 40” x 2.5”

Snitches Get Stitches, 2017

acrylic, flashe, on hand-built multidimensional wooden panel, 30" x 30" x 2.5"