Michael Cross

Michael Cross's Abstract Painting

Cross works in abstraction as a language for things that resist literal depiction — memory, mood, the emotional residue of place and time. His paintings are built through layers of colour, gesture, and mark-making that accumulate into compositions with genuine visual depth. The American Southwest is a recurring influence, not as landscape to be copied but as a source of colour relationships, spatial openness, and the quality of light that defines the region. The result is work that feels grounded in a specific sensory experience without ever becoming illustrative.

What distinguishes Cross's approach is the emphasis on dialogue — each painting is intended as a meeting point between the artist's experience and the viewer's own associations. The forms are open enough to invite interpretation without being so vague that they resist engagement. Colour does much of the communicative work: warm ochres and earth tones ground the compositions, while unexpected blues or greens create tension and visual energy. For other abstract artwork, explore our abstract art prints collection, or browse more work from our contemporary artists.

Choosing the Right Format

Cross's layered, gestural paintings translate effectively across both formats. Fine art paper prints in A3, 50x70cm, 70x100cm, and A0 preserve the full range of mark-making — every brushstroke, scrape, and colour layer visible with precision. Black frames create a strong, gallery-quality border that suits the bold gestures, while oak frames add warmth that connects to the earth-toned palette. Canvas prints in 30x40cm, 50x70cm, and 70x100cm add a physical texture that complements the painterly quality of the originals, giving the surface a tactile depth that rewards close viewing. An optional floating frame provides a clean gallery finish.

Living with Abstract Art

Abstract work like Cross's benefits from generous wall space and enough distance for the composition to be seen as a whole. A single large-format piece — such as Mogul — can define a living room or office wall, creating a focal point that shifts in character depending on the time of day and the light in the room. These pieces pair naturally with other abstract prints or with calm, landscape-inspired pieces for a gallery wall that balances movement with stillness.

All prints are produced in our Berlin studio using archival pigment inks rated for 100+ years.