​Michael Hennessey
born June 2 1953, a native of NY.
Sculptor, Designer, Design Engineer....
Mike has worked continuously within these creative fields since 1971 and continues to do so.
He is a local Long Island artist whom has produced Sculpture in muti mediums, utilizing cast bronze, clay, steel & stainless steel, fiberglass & foam, plastics, and found object constructions. He has generated works in classical as well as representative modern style (bronze) abstract monumental steel fabrications and stainless steel, formed plastics and formed foam core and fiberglass and any other materials from which he can fashion his visions.
During Mikes public education he discovered & began to develop his keen abilities to envision ideas and set them into 3-dimensional form. He was encouraged by his teachers to continue to pursue his sculptural talents.
He had been accepted to Pratt Institute in 1970 but was unable to attend due to lack of financial means, he then attended local Community College and State University in lieu of formal art school. From this vantage he was able to both undertake engineering studies and pursue instructive art & art history courses as well as take advantage of auditing additional art classes and utilizing their facilities and models. During this period, he attended exhibitions and visited galleries as well as haunting the Fine Art Museums and public sculptures of NYC and Philadelphia.
After his educational forays he decided he would travel and tour the great museums and cities of Europe to immerse himself in the great art and architecture of Europe to studied both Classical and Modern works. After returning to NY from his month’s long odyssey he again fully threw himself into his Sculptural pursuits. Mike set himself upon a course of learning all he could about the methods of creating 3-dimensional objects, art and design.
Mike has worked continuously within these creative fields since 1971 and continues to do so.
He is a local Long Island artist whom has produced Sculpture in muti mediums, utilizing cast bronze, clay, steel & stainless steel, fiberglass & foam, plastics, and found object constructions. He has generated works in classical as well as representative modern style (bronze) abstract monumental steel fabrications and stainless steel, formed plastics and formed foam core and fiberglass and any other materials from which he can fashion his visions.
During Mikes public education he discovered & began to develop his keen abilities to envision ideas and set them into 3-dimensional form. He was encouraged by his teachers to continue to pursue his sculptural talents.
He had been accepted to Pratt Institute in 1970 but was unable to attend due to lack of financial means, he then attended local Community College and State University in lieu of formal art school. From this vantage he was able to both undertake engineering studies and pursue instructive art & art history courses as well as take advantage of auditing additional art classes and utilizing their facilities and models. During this period, he attended exhibitions and visited galleries as well as haunting the Fine Art Museums and public sculptures of NYC and Philadelphia.
After his educational forays he decided he would travel and tour the great museums and cities of Europe to immerse himself in the great art and architecture of Europe to studied both Classical and Modern works. After returning to NY from his month’s long odyssey he again fully threw himself into his Sculptural pursuits. Mike set himself upon a course of learning all he could about the methods of creating 3-dimensional objects, art and design.
Through the presentation of his portfolio, he was able to land a job with Joel Meisner & Co. a fine art foundry located in Plainview NY. Specializing in Lost Wax Bronze Casting. During this period, he learned all aspects of the lost wax process, mold making, as well as how to configure works for this process. He also had the good fortune to work beside other sculptors, George Gach and Mario Nardin and to work on other works cast for numerous established Sculptors. Many of the individuals employed by Joel at the time were themselves aspiring Sculptors.
After his association with the foundry, Mike rented a studio in Bridgehampton NY. During a juried show at Guild-Hall he was introduced to David Porter, a well- known and respected Abstract Expressionist painter and sculptor. He was invited to visit David’s studio in Wainscot NY after which he was asked to assist David in his current work. David was a major influence on both Mikes artistic development as well as his understanding of the art business. David introduced him to many well- established working artists of the day and gallery contacts, he was honored to have had this opportunity to work with David.
At the time of his daughter’s birth Mike maintained his studio in a converted barn in Speonk NY. Up to this point he was able to eke out a living selling his sculptures through commissions and at local art shows on Long Island. He also had begun to canvas his portfolio to galleries in NYC, and else ware. However, the pressures and responsibilities of Fatherhood caused Mike to re- evaluate his skills and talents and redirect his efforts towards more commercial outlets. His first endeavor was Island Life Casting. This was a Moulage / Plaster based body casting service which was operated out of his studio in Speonk NY.
Having made previous contacts in the furniture and industrial design realm he was offered a position with Castelli Industries, a high-end Italian furniture manufacture as a Pattern and Mold Maker. Designing & Engineering molds for what then was the new technology of In Place Flexible Polyurethane Foam Casting. Again, Mike took advantage of this opportunity to learn a new technology and applied it to creating sculpture, as well as having the good fortune of working with established furniture and industrial designers and furniture manufacturers.
He continued advancing his business pursuits throughout his career as a Design Engineer working within Architectural design, Medical Equipment design & development, and Cleanroom Equipment design for Semiconductor manufacturing and currently Pharmaceutical Containment equipment engineering & design. He established his own engineering, design & manufacturing company “Isolation Systems Inc.” in 2001. Now one of the premier Pharmaceutical & Hazardous material containment design, engineering and custom application build firms in this business. He continues to be involved in the company providing initial consultation for new process specific design concepts, providing support to customers in the development of new projects.
Throughout his multifaceted career he has continued to develop his skills and create a continuous flow of sculptural works. Sculpture being his first passion and pursuit throughout his life. He has periodically displayed his works in such venues as Parish Art Museum in South Hampton NY – Guild Hall in East Hampton NY- Heckscher Museum Huntington NY- Elaine Benson Gallery Bridge Hampton NY-Jacob Javits Center NYC- Libraries Banks and other public spaces - He has also displayed at local art council shows and organizations. Mike also has frequently participated in side walk shows and art festivals when possible. This web site and company “MIKENESY PRODUCTIONS” was created for the sole purpose of presenting the Sculptural legacy and current Sculptural works of Michael Hennessey for public viewing and sale. He continues to produce from his main studio and Gallery of 38 years at Wading River NY & his metal working studio and shop at Yaphank, NY.
Mike’s major sculptural and artistic influences are Auguste Rodin. Camille Claudel, Henry Moore, David Smith, Willem De Kooning. Degas, Michelangelo, Alberto Giacometti, Hans Arp, Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Calder, Picasso and of course David Porter.
Mike can also be contacted via telephone-e-mail - web site. Linked in, & Face Book. His work can also be viewed through Esty and other fine art sites.
After his association with the foundry, Mike rented a studio in Bridgehampton NY. During a juried show at Guild-Hall he was introduced to David Porter, a well- known and respected Abstract Expressionist painter and sculptor. He was invited to visit David’s studio in Wainscot NY after which he was asked to assist David in his current work. David was a major influence on both Mikes artistic development as well as his understanding of the art business. David introduced him to many well- established working artists of the day and gallery contacts, he was honored to have had this opportunity to work with David.
At the time of his daughter’s birth Mike maintained his studio in a converted barn in Speonk NY. Up to this point he was able to eke out a living selling his sculptures through commissions and at local art shows on Long Island. He also had begun to canvas his portfolio to galleries in NYC, and else ware. However, the pressures and responsibilities of Fatherhood caused Mike to re- evaluate his skills and talents and redirect his efforts towards more commercial outlets. His first endeavor was Island Life Casting. This was a Moulage / Plaster based body casting service which was operated out of his studio in Speonk NY.
Having made previous contacts in the furniture and industrial design realm he was offered a position with Castelli Industries, a high-end Italian furniture manufacture as a Pattern and Mold Maker. Designing & Engineering molds for what then was the new technology of In Place Flexible Polyurethane Foam Casting. Again, Mike took advantage of this opportunity to learn a new technology and applied it to creating sculpture, as well as having the good fortune of working with established furniture and industrial designers and furniture manufacturers.
He continued advancing his business pursuits throughout his career as a Design Engineer working within Architectural design, Medical Equipment design & development, and Cleanroom Equipment design for Semiconductor manufacturing and currently Pharmaceutical Containment equipment engineering & design. He established his own engineering, design & manufacturing company “Isolation Systems Inc.” in 2001. Now one of the premier Pharmaceutical & Hazardous material containment design, engineering and custom application build firms in this business. He continues to be involved in the company providing initial consultation for new process specific design concepts, providing support to customers in the development of new projects.
Throughout his multifaceted career he has continued to develop his skills and create a continuous flow of sculptural works. Sculpture being his first passion and pursuit throughout his life. He has periodically displayed his works in such venues as Parish Art Museum in South Hampton NY – Guild Hall in East Hampton NY- Heckscher Museum Huntington NY- Elaine Benson Gallery Bridge Hampton NY-Jacob Javits Center NYC- Libraries Banks and other public spaces - He has also displayed at local art council shows and organizations. Mike also has frequently participated in side walk shows and art festivals when possible. This web site and company “MIKENESY PRODUCTIONS” was created for the sole purpose of presenting the Sculptural legacy and current Sculptural works of Michael Hennessey for public viewing and sale. He continues to produce from his main studio and Gallery of 38 years at Wading River NY & his metal working studio and shop at Yaphank, NY.
Mike’s major sculptural and artistic influences are Auguste Rodin. Camille Claudel, Henry Moore, David Smith, Willem De Kooning. Degas, Michelangelo, Alberto Giacometti, Hans Arp, Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Calder, Picasso and of course David Porter.
Mike can also be contacted via telephone-e-mail - web site. Linked in, & Face Book. His work can also be viewed through Esty and other fine art sites.
