Mike Okay
Mike Okay (b. 1980, Halle, DE) is a visual artist based in Halle, Germany. His work is influenced by nostalgia, including drawings from old children's books, old melodies and mixtapes, graffiti, stories from the past, and personal memories. It is a way for the artist to bridge the gap between the past and present and revisit previous chapters of life. His creative process often begins with a mood, rather than a specific idea, and Okay’s work thereby becomes a way for the artist to preserve memories and feelings. He describes his process as an assembly of fragments - a translation of thoughts, a blueprint, and a dialogue with the artwork drawing out deep, sometimes hidden emotions from within. Nostalgia and memory playing a central role in his work, makes it deeply intertwined with influences from his childhood in the GDR and the distinctive aesthetics of the '80s and '90s. Given the deeply personal nature of his work, rooted in the artist's own memories, it becomes a matter of courage - the ability to transform profound emotions into a visual language open to interpretation by others. Despite the vulnerability this demands, Mike Okay finds that art allows him to see the world from a unique perspective and is an invitation to recognize the magic of your own story and the magic in everyday life, which makes him addicted to it.
Mike Okay's educational journey began with architecture studies at HTWK Leipzig (2001–2002) before transitioning to design studies at the University of Art and Design Burg Giebichenstein Halle (2003–2010). Throughout his career, Okay has received multiple artist grants from the Art Foundation Saxony-Anhalt and Kloster Berge Foundation (2017, 2024). As a co-founder of the renowned art space Galaxie Neuer Künste (since 2021) and the influential art collective KLUB7 (since 1998), he has played an active role in shaping contemporary art discourse. His membership in prestigious institutions such as the Art Directors Club Germany and the Hallescher Kunstverein further underscores his impact on the field. Okay's work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions across Europe and beyond, including notable shows at Galerie Kleindienst (Leipzig), Galerie Slika (Lyon), and Valerius Gallery (Luxembourg).