MORGANTOWN — Across the Walnut Street Bridge and up a flight of rainbow-painted steps is South Park neighborhood’s newest addition — Hog Fence Studio and Gallery.
Owned by retired art teacher Michael Green, the art gallery features work based on various subjects and mediums.
“My style is Andy Warhol meets Pablo Picasso at South Beach,” Green said. “That’s my wild side.”
Named after the hog fencing used to hang his artwork, Green’s studio is home to canvases of all sizes and many styles. Although his “wild side” can be seen in many of his pieces, the diversity in Green’s various techniques can make it hard to believe each canvas comes from one artist.
Visitors are welcome to shop at Hog Fence Studio and Gallery daily by appointment only, or Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In some areas of the studio, visitors can find intricate landscapes made from watercolor lining the walls. In the next section, abstract sketches and pieces incorporating fabric and other materials hang beside one another.
There aren’t many specific things Green draws inspiration from, but spending time thinking and drawing in his studio is when he taps into his creativity and comes up with new ideas.
“People say I’m very creative,” he said. “It just comes to me.”
Green’s career as an artist started when he first attended WVU. He originally considered becoming a social studies teacher, but during one of his first advisory meetings, he decided instead to study to become an art teacher.
He went on to work as an art teacher for 36 years in Monongalia County, at schools including North Elementary School and later at Morgantown High School.
As a teacher, Green went the extra mile to attend his students’ extracurricular activities to show his support, whether it was theater performances or sporting competitions. Busy caring for his students, it wasn’t until after he retired that he was able to find time to invest in his own artwork.
“When I was an educator, I did not have time to do art,” Green said. “You’re busy with your kids.”
Once retired, he took advantage of his free time, and began attending an art course with Susan Witt at the Morgantown Art Association Gallery. Much like in his art, Green’s wild side showed during the course as well.
“I was sort of like the wild child because everybody was doing their thing, and I would go in and paint and just do my own thing,” Green said.
Green originally sold his artwork through local organizations before deciding to open his own studio and gallery. He began preparing the space in November of 2020, and officially opened April 10 during Main Street Morgantown’s first Arts Walk of the year.
Once moving into his current location at 357 Brockway Ave., two additional artists followed in his footsteps. Down the hallway from Hog Fence Studio, freelance designer and illustrator Liz Pavlovic and airbrush artist Barry Landis have set up studios of their own.
Barbara Watkins, executive director of Main Street Morgantown, said she is looking forward to having a new business, which creates connectivity between downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. She said new businesses feeding into the downtown Morgantown show how vibrant the area is.
“It’s great to not only have a vibrant downtown, but also to have businesses in these historic neighborhoods that we have,” Watkins said.
Those interested in receiving more information or to make a viewing appointment can message Hog Fence Studio and Gallery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArtworkbyMichaelGreen or Instagram at www.instagram.com/artworkbymichaelgreen.
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