Michael Garner

Michael Garner (b. 1979) is a dual Austrian/American citizen with a remarkably diverse career that spans journalism, data science, computational lexicography, project management, graphic design, intelligence analysis, and teaching. He has worked with NASA, the CIA, Meta, Amnesty International, the U.S. Department of State, and one of the oldest independently-owned newspapers in the United States. He also founded a nonprofit animal rescue organization. These experiences have broadened his view of the human condition and given him a unique perspective on which to base his art.

Art has inspired and comforted Garner in both good times and bad. During a particularly difficult period while working for the CIA (as detailed in his memoir), he took refuge in art—not merely to escape, but to inhabit and explore another plane of reality where mundane rules no longer applied. This experience allowed him to transcend his challenges and recognize the potential for innumerable possibilities in the world.

Some of his works are serious and philosophical, addressing social and political issues or questioning authority. Through these, he seeks to encourage viewers to think critically about society. Others are more whimsical and lighthearted. This balance is important to him. Communicating through the modalities of humor and beauty enables him to smuggle in deeper, darker issues that may provoke difficult reflection on the world—and perhaps even encourage prosocial behavior. Notably, he is reestablishing the Cold War-era Congress for Cultural Freedom with a postmodern twist.

Garner lives in London and speaks Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French, and basic Russian. He has an M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a B.A. in Sociology with Honors from The University of Texas at Austin. He has exhibited at GAIA Gallery (New York City), White Conduit Projects (London), and The Bomb Factory (London) and has held public performances in New York, London, and Berlin. He has also been part of several podcasts, periodicals, and film events.