MICHAEL TEEL
INTRO
Michael Teel is an award-winning West Virginia artist whose work focuses primarily on oil and mixed-media painting. Rooted in the people, places, and culture of Appalachia, his paintings explore the human experience of living in the region, often reflecting its distinctive character, contradictions, and everyday stories.
Teel brings a strong foundation in visual communication to his fine art practice. For more than 38 years, he has worked as a graphic designer with small advertising and design firms as well as a Fortune 500 company in the Washington, D.C., area. His extensive design background informs his approach to composition, color, visual narrative, and the relationship between imagery and meaning.
He is the owner of Teel Design Group, a print and digital design firm serving businesses, associations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm provides branding and logo development, print design, web design and development, and digital marketing services.
Whether working in fine art or graphic design, Teel's work is grounded in visual storytelling and a belief in the power of imagery to communicate ideas, evoke emotion, and connect people through shared experience.
EXHIBITIONS/SHOWS
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - Best of Show - 2026
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2 pieces selected - third Place - 2025
Emerging Artist Juried Show - 2024
West Virginia Culture and History Juried Show - 2024
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2024
West Virginia Culture and History Juried Show - 2 pieces selected - 2023
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2023
Featured Artist, Kanawha County Library - 2023
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show, 1 piece selected - 2022
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show, 2 pieces selected - third place - 2021
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show, 2 pieces selected - 2020
West Virginia Culture and History Emerging Artists Juried Show - 2020
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2 pieces selected - Best of Show - 2019
Ice House Gallery, Berkeley Springs, WV - Group Artist Show - 2018
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2 pieces selected - second place - 2017
West Virginia Allied Artists Juried Show - 2 pieces selected - 2016
West Virginia Culture and History Juried Show - 2 pieces selected - 2015
Solo Gallery Exhibit, Art Emporium, Charleston, WV - 2015
West Virginia Allied Artists Juried Show, 2 pieces selected - 2014
Tri-State Artists Juried Show - 2013
West Virginia Allied Artists Juried Show - 2012
RECOGNITION/AWARDS
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show, Best of Show - 2026
Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show, Third Place - 2025
Selected as an artisan in the Tamarack System - 2023
Tamarack Best of West Virginia, Third Place - 2021
Tamarack Best of West Virginia, Best of Show - 2019
Tamarack Best of West Virginia, Second Place - 2018
West Virginia Culture and History Juried Show, Award of Excellence - 2017
PUBLIC/PRIVATE
COMMISSIONS
West Virginia Supreme Court Annex - 2023
Private Collector - Charleston, WV - 2023
Kroger-Scott Depot-Teays Valley Quadriptych Mural - 2021
Distinctive Art Source Triptych Commission for Inova Loudoun Hospital Patient Tower. Leesburg, VA - 2019/20
Central Real Estate Heptaptych Commission for Main Office, Charleston, WV - 2014
PUBLICATIONS/REVIEWS
Spring Cover of ArtWorks West Virginia
ArtVoice West Virginia, Featured Artist Video
Featured Artist, Longridge Editors Blog
EDUCATION
Workshops: Jon Redmond, Nancy Tankersley, Shelby Keefe, Kevin Weckbach, Patrick Lee - 2010 -24
Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA - 1988
West Virginia State University, Institute, WV - 1978-81