The following was written by Kent Whipple, art professional from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Michael Malm's pastoral landscapes are a reflection of his feelings about rural Utah where he lives with his wife and son. "I love the old farm communities and the wide open fields. There is something peaceful about these settings," he explains. Though he enjoys painting the beautiful valley which surrounds him, he is not limited to the landscapes. Malm's paintings often include figures, grazing animals and still lifes.

"I like to keep variety in my work; it keeps me fresh. However, I love doing figures, seeing the way light reflects off the skin and the mystery in each person's eyes, "

Malm's serious study began under Del Parson at Dixie College where he completed his Associate's degree. He went on to Southern Utah University where he had the opportunity to study with Perry Stewart. He has recently completed his Master of Fine Arts from Utah State University where he studied under Glen Edwards. "I feel privileged to have learned from some great artists. Looking at their work keeps me humble, and I am inspired to work harder to improve my own painting."

Having an optimistic perspective about life, Malm's paintings try to capture the uplifting parts of this world. He creates a pleasant mood using light and colors. The way light falls on an object is very important to Malm helping create a calm and peaceful feeling. Malm says he wants his paintings to look like paintings and not photographs, although his work is very representational. He refers to the style he uses as "impressionistic realism".

A top 100 finalist in the 1997 nationwide Arts for the Parks competition, Michael has been involved in numerous shows also been recognized by the Society of Illustrators in New York City.

Source: Southwest Art, September 2002

A native of Utah, Michael Malm is a painter of figurative subjects, especially females in western landscape, often with horses. He has achieved his professional art reputation early, being only 22 when he began and getting immediate acceptance in prestigious galleries and winning the Arts for the Parks competition.

He first studied art at Dixie College in St. George, Utah. Malm went on to earn a Bachelors Degree from Southern Utah University, and in 2000 he finished his master's degree at Utah State University. He was a student of artist Del Parson from whom he learned traditional drawing and painting skills and of Perry Stewart an illustrator.

Malm and his wife, Juanita, decided to stay in Cache Valley after graduation, and the couple had three children. Living in a rural area, he paints cattle, barns and figures in landscapes. "His painting reflect his feelings about old farm communities and the beauty of open fields, as he recreates the peace and serenity found in the rural West." (Gillespie 65) His preferred medium is oil and Malm tries to always paint from life. The artist feels the way he illuminates his subjects is the most important aspect of his work.

Source:
Nancy Gillespie, 'A Lifetime Pursuit', Art of the West, December 2004

Michael Malm, b. 1972, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)

The pastoral landscapes that Malm paints are a reflection of his feelings about rural Utah, about which he says, "I love the old farm communities, the grazing animals and wide open fields. There is something peaceful about these settings". Though he enjoys painting the beautiful valley around him, he has not limited himself to landscapes, and often includes figures, grazing animals and still life in his work.

A native of Utah, Michael Malm is a painter of figurative subjects, especially females in western landscape, often with horses. He has achieved his professional art reputation early, being only 22 when he began and got immediate acceptance in prestigious galleries and won the Arts for the Parks competition.

Malm and his wife, Juanita, decided to stay in Cache Valley after graduation. They live with their children in a rural area, where he paints cattle, barns and figures in landscapes. Malm's preferred medium is oil and he tries to always paint from life. The artist feels the way he illuminates his subjects is the most important aspect of his work.

Education
• Dixie College, St. George, UT
• Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT
• M.F.A., Utah State University, Logan, UT

Selected Exhibitions
• Springville Museum, Spring Salon Show, Springville, UT, 2003, 2014
• Museum of Church History and Art, Seek My Face Exhibit, Salt Lake City, UT, 2011
• Museum of Church History and Art, ,International Art Competition, Salt Lake City, UT, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009
• University of Utah Museum, Salt Lake City, UT, April, 2008
• ARC Salon Competition, 2006, 2007
• Oil Painters of America National Exhibit, Whistle Pik Gallery, Fredricksburg, TX, 2007
• Dixie College, Sears Invitational, , St. George, UT, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007
• Oil Painters of America, National Exhibit, Chicago, Illinois, 2005
• Bennington Center for the Arts, Artists for the New Century, Bennington, VT, September 2002
• Arts for the Parks, Top 100, Jackson Hole, WY, 1997

Selected Press
• Southwest Art "Artist to Watch"
• Western Art Collector "Fresh Offerings", December, 2013, pg. 74
• Southwest Art "Timeless Emotions", Feature, May, 2013 pg. 104
• Ensign, Cover art, "Favorite Stories", July, 2013
• Ensign, Inside Cover, "A Peaceful Heart", November, 2013,
• Southwest Art "The Feminine Form", November, 2001, pg. 130
• Southwest Art "21 under 31", September, 2000, pg. 117
• Ensign, inside Cover, "Step of Faith", November, 2012,
• Art of The West "Keeping it Simple" Feature , January/February 2011, pg. 60
• Western Art Collector "Beauty of Nature", February, 2011, pg. 100
• Southwest Art "Success Stories", August 2010, pg. 58
• Art of the West "The Studio" Feature, January/February, 2009
• Western Art Collector "Human Nature" Feature, February, 2009, pg. 90
• Cache Magazine "Timeless Tales", October 2-8, 2009
• Workshop Magazine by American Artist "Michael Malm: Averaging Values & Colors From the Start", Winter, 2008
• Park City Magazine "Mike Malm: Finding the Lyrical in Life Brings Peace", 2008, pg. 70
• Dixie State Magazine "Getting to Know Mike Malm, Q&A, Spring, 2007, pg. 14
• Herald Journal "A Passion for Painting", September 18th, 2005
• Art of the West magazine, Feature, November/December, 2004
• Art Talk, March, 2002, pg. 22
• The Artist's Magazine, October, 2002
• The Artist's Magazine, Cover, October, 2002
• Southwest Art, "Celebrating Simplicity", September, 2002, pg. 118

Awards
• Museum of Church History and Art, Eighth International Art Competition, Purchase Award, Saving that Which Was Lost", Salt Lake City, UT, 2008
• ARC Salon Competition, 2nd Place-Figurative Category, 2007
• Dixie College, Sears Invitational, Purchase Award, St. George, UT, 2007
• Dixie College, Sears Invitational, First Place & Viewer's Choice Award for Oil, St. George, UT, 2006
• ARC Salon Competition, Finalist-Figurative Category, 2006
• Dixie College, Sears Invitational, First Place for Oil, St. George, UT, 2003
• Springville Museum, Spring Salon Show, First Place, Springville, UT, 2003
• Museum of Church History and Art, Sixth International Art Competition, Award of Merit, "Peace, Not As the World Giveth", Salt Lake City, UT, 2002
• Bennington Center for the Arts, Artists for the New Century, Director's Choice, "Winter Afternoon", Bennington, VT, September 2002
• Museum of Church History and Art, International Art Competition, "Peace, Not As the World Giveth", Purchase Award, Salt Lake City, UT, 2002
• Dixie College, Sears Invitational, First Place for Oil, St. George, UT, 2001
• Arts for the Parks, Top 100, 1997

Public Collections
• Bennington Center for the Arts, "Winter Afternoon", September
• Museum of Church History and Art, "Peace, Not As the World Giveth", Salt Lake City, UT
• Museum of Church History and Art, "Saving that Which Was Lost", Salt Lake City, UT
• George Lucas, Star Wars: Visions Project 2010, "Padme's Dream"
• LDS Church, Brigham City, Utah

Affiliations
• Oil Painters of America

Michael Malm's study began under Del Parson at Dixie College where he completed his Associate's degree. He then went on to Southern Utah University where he had the opportunity to study with Perry Stewart. His Master of Fine Art degree was earned at Utah State University.

The pastoral landscapes that Malm paints are a reflection of his feelings about rural Utah, about which he says, I love the old farm communities, the grazing animals and wide open fields. There is something peaceful about these settings. Though he enjoys painting the beautiful valley around him, he has not limited himself to landscapes, and often includes figures, grazing animals and still lifes in his work.