Michael Brennan grew up “always drawing.” By the third grade, he was fascinated by oil painting and drawing. A Salvador Dali art book became one of Michael’s first resources as a budding young artist sealing his love of art.

For Michael, the origin of a painting or mural might begin with a simple sketch on a cocktail napkin. Each idea gets to “work its way through” his brain as he obsesses over an evolving concept. Such obsession eventually brings the parts into a single whole, as Michael tinkers with the construction, painting and other design elements of a piece till the work reaches fruition.

Diners in many multi-faceted restaurants have been able to appreciate Michael’s paintings, murals and creative designs. Initial interest came from the prolific California “culinary entrepreneur” Pat Kuleto, who commissioned Michael’s art for his Farallon and Jardinire restaurants. Kuleto recognizes that design is powerful: “From the moment you walk in, the way a restaurant looks, smells and feels significantly affects your mood and influences your enjoyment. Design indelibly colors your entire dining experience. You consume the design with every bite of the food.”

Michael has been recognized nationally for his restaurant designs including Esquire Magazine, for George Morrone’s Tartare restaurant, one of the top restaurants of 2004; Bon Appetit Magazine for his work on Hotel Rex, San Francisco Magazine, and DFL (Design For Living) which Michael was recognized for his Tartare design. His repertoire includes more than 40 restaurant projects in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Napa, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. His mural commissions include extraordinary work in the Oakland Arena, Metreon in San Francisco, and the Park La Brae in Los Angeles.

As Michael’s body of work has grown, his art can be experienced in private, corporate and museum collections worldwide. Clients have included Ann & Gordon Getty, O.J. & Gary Shansby, who sponsored Michael and his “Heart” design for the San Francisco Hearts project in 2004 and the Napa Valley Museum of Contemporary Art.

Father of son, Perry, Michael’s vision is driven by “following the great painters” as well as the works of Lucien Freud, Wayne Thiebaud, and Gerard Richter.

CLIENT LIST

BAROLO, Pacifica
JARDINIERE, San Francisco
REBEL, San Francisco
ZERO ZERO, San Francisco
ADAGIA, Berkeley
REVIVAL, Berkeley
BOCA PIZZERIA, Novato
BRICK AND BOTTLE, Corte Madera
IL COSTANERA, Montara
BAKER AND BANKER, San Francisco
DISH N’DASH, Sunnyvale
DISH DASH, Sunnyvale
BULLIT, San Francisco
TONIC, San Francisco
LONG BAR, San Francisco
CLIFF HOUSE, San Francisco
MOOSES, San Francisco
MISS PEARLS JAM HOUSE, Alameda
BRUNOS, San Francisco
OWL TREE, San Francisco
HARRYS, San Francisco
LE CHARM, San Francisco
LA TERRASSE, San Francisco
L’ARDOISE, San Francisco
FLEUR DE LYSE, San Francisco
MARINTAS, San Anselmo
INSALATA, San Anselmo
CIRCA, San Francisco
MURRAY CIRCLE, Sausalito
NECTAR, Burlingame
ARCHIPELAGO, Burlingame
ISA, San Francisco
DOMO, San Francisco
SHABU, San Francisco
MISSION BEACH CAFÉ, San Francisco
CHANDON, Yountville
PICKLES, San Francisco
TRADEMARK, San Francisco
5A5, San Francisco
HOUSE OF PRIME RIB, San Francisco
FARALLON, San Francisco
MARTINI HOUSE, St. Helena