User:Notwerk/sandbox

Mike Rivamonte is an American sculptor and illustrator. He is a graduate of University of Alabama - Hunstville with a BA in graphic design. He moved to Miami in 1992 and worked as creative for many Miami companies including MTV Latin America, Ocean Drive Magazine, Miami City Ballet, Cisnero Television Group and Turnberry Associates among others. In 2004, he moved to Manhattan to work for entertainment agency Spotco under the talents of Vinny Sainato and Gail Anderson. At Spotco, Mike worked as creative on Broadway shows, including Rent, Chicago, Drowsey Chaperone and Avenue Q. as well as Off Broadway and Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. It was in New York that Mike began his next project: collecting antiques, drawing, and making blueprints to build robots.

In 2006, he returned to Miami and continued to work on his robot designs using antique and rare objects he had collected from his travels and his time in New York.

In 2008, Mike submitted one of his sculptures and was selected for inclusion in Spectrum, The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. For the next five consecutive years his sculptures won a place in this juried annual.

In 2009 his first solo show, Rocketman, sucessfully debuted to the public in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District.

In 2013, inspired by Florida’s rich history of roadside attractions, Mike built Florida’s first and tallest wooden robot, Rex. This towering nine foot tall robot is currently on display at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami Florida. Mike also paints and creates posters of his work.

He has participated in numerous collective group shows, Miami Art Basel, the Mulvane Art Museum, Los Angeles Toy and Doll Museum, Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center and the Japanese American National Museum. His work is held by companies and top collectors throughout the U.S. and Europe. He lives and works in Miami, Florida.