Michael Hewlett
About Michael Hewlett
Michael Hewlett is a contemporary artist based in Laveen, Arizona, and founder of Yatzi Studio & Gallery. His work explores the intersection of abstraction, representation, and subtle surrealism, creating atmospheric compositions in which familiar subjects encounter the unexpected. His studio takes its name from Yatzi, the Chihuahua whose arrival unexpectedly renewed his connection to art—a fitting origin for an artistic practice shaped by chance, spontaneity, and an openness to the unforeseen.
Central to Hewlett’s artistic identity is Tranquility Interrupted, an ongoing exploration of the delicate tension between stillness and disruption. Through unexpected juxtapositions, shifting perspectives, and carefully balanced compositions, his paintings capture the instant when calm, beauty, or familiarity begins to transform. A ripple breaking a still surface, wind overtaking a quiet landscape, or an improbable element entering a recognizable scene may introduce this tension. Rather than depicting chaos or illustrating a prescribed narrative, Hewlett creates visual environments that invite contemplation, curiosity, and personal interpretation.
His current body of work reflects a deliberate artistic direction, combining atmospheric landscapes, recognizable imagery, and surreal elements into compositions that balance beauty with uncertainty. Paintings such as A Small Measure of Water, A Fragile Oasis, Cradled by the Desert, and Flying Fish exemplify this approach, revealing a consistent visual language in which tranquility and the unexpected coexist. His artwork has been exhibited in residential gallery and cultural arts settings throughout Phoenix, introducing his approach to contemporary painting to a broader audience.
Working primarily in acrylic and mixed media, including spray paint, gels, and textured surfaces, Hewlett embraces experimentation, layering, movement, and controlled imperfection as essential elements of his creative process. These methods preserve a sense of spontaneity while inviting viewers to discover the disturbance within the calm. Through Yatzi Studio & Gallery, he continues to develop a cohesive body of contemporary work distinguished by atmospheric depth, imaginative contrasts, and the belief that even the quietest moments hold the potential for transformation.