MICHAEL KOEHLER

BUGS IN THE CODE

debut solo feature

May 1st - 31st, 2026

Opening Reception: First Friday, May 1st from 5-9pm

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Arch Enemy Arts presents BUGS IN THE CODE by Michael Koehler, a series of nine new works that mark a decisive shift in the artist’s creative evolution. Moving away from composite portraiture for this series, Koehler has constructed multi-dimensional landscapes that reflect the shifting, contradictory worlds we inhabit. Built from cut and stacked wood panels, each painting uses inset spaces and framing devices to create the sensation of looking through natural, built, and virtual landscapes at the same time. With an electric palette that feels distinctly contemporary, seductive, and a bit unsettling, Koehler heightens the sense of digital disruption that now follows us through every physical space we occupy. BUGS IN THE CODE is Koehler’s way of exploring connections between these fragmented exterior and virtual worlds.

 

“For this new series, I wanted to go in a new direction from my work of the past few years. I began taking daily walks around my city, camera in hand, attempting to explore parts of neighborhoods that I had never been to. While walking, I’d take snapshots of new and old infrastructure, the multitude of signs, trash, and pervasive objects that fill our urban spaces, creating a catalog of new inspiration for myself.

 

“While walking, I would think about how I spend my time otherwise. I enjoy the peace and tranquility that comes with surrounding myself in nature, away from the buildings, cars, signs and noise. It is where I feel most at ease. On the other hand, there is the endless virtual landscape of the internet that I surf and scroll. It is a place that feels antithetical to the awe-inspiring beauty of nature but a place that I am compulsively drawn to all the same. I began to picture windows that could connect these separate spaces (urban, natural, and digital) as a way to  interact with them simultaneously in an abstract way.” - Michael Koehler

 

Michael Koehler (b. 1983) was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. A self-taught painter, he studied graphic design and screen printing and worked as a professional designer for eight years while teaching himself to work with acrylics. Now a full-time artist, this iteration of his work involves an incredible array of self-taught materials and techniques, a testament to Koehler’s commitment to his practice, to taking risks, and to the continuous growth of his career. Koehler began showing with Arch Enemy Arts in 2021 after submitting to our Spotlight Showcase, and BUGS IN THE CODE marks his second solo feature with the gallery.

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BUGS IN THE CODE will be on view from May 1st - 31st, 2026
Sold works will begin to ship the week starting June 7th unless other rush arrangements have been made.

Payment plan options are available on most works.

All items marked with a red dot have been sold. 

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