Michael Cassidy, of West Columbia, SC, is known for his meticulous paintings of flowers and other plants and things such as bricks and antlers, all in solitude, isolated against a dark background. Recently, Cassidy has expanded his subject matter and approach. Included now are turtles, birds, and other small animals, often in combination with plant life or weathered pieces of decorative wood. Michael Cassidy has lived in the Columbia area for over 17 years. He joined if ART Gallery in 2015 and had his first solo exhibition there in 2016. Cassidy was selected for the 701 CCA South Carolina Biennial 2015 at 701 Center for Contemporary Art. He had solo exhibitions in 2009 and 2014 in the FAB Gallery at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, as well as a 2013 solo show at City Art Gallery in Columbia. Among group exhibitions in which his work was included are those at SC State University’s IP Stanback Museum and Planetarium and the Anderson Art Center in Anderson, SC. From 2011 – 2015, Cassidy worked as a curator, gallery director, and instructor at South Carolina State University. Since 2015, he has worked as an Exhibits Master Craftsman at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Cassidy received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of South Carolina in 2014 and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.