Michael Aldag
Imagery of stained-glass windows, religious symbols, and church edifices pervade my creations. Matters of contemporary spirituality drive my artistic vision. My work explores the prophetic voice in the world around us.
Over the years, I have explored this theme in different ways; utilizing a variety of media, including drawing, painting, and mixed media. Most recently, I have focused on photography to further contextualize these ideas. Temple is a collection of photographs that capture images of buildings in the region of Southern Illinois, where I reside, that were once used by Christian congregations for regular worship - but no longer are. So far, I have photographed over 60 of these sites in numerous towns across this Bible Belt area. The audience is invited to reflect on what this trend (occurring throughout the country) means and how it relates to modern-day American society.
I earned my BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design. I have been an active member of the Illinois Art League since 2009. My work is in private collections and the Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art's Permanent Collection. I have served as a judge for art competitions, like the Cedarhurst Biennial in 2025 at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts. I was named an Esteemed Listee in the 2023 Marquis Who's Who in America biographical registry. My artwork is available for purchase at the Illinois State Museum.
Website: michaelaldag.carbonmade.com
