Michael Beare (born 1953) is an Australian artist. As an art student he was influenced by Surrealism, Pop and contemporary forms of realism and abstraction, which informed his developing approach to composition, colour and subject matter.

From 2011 he began incorporating fragments of vintage illustrations into his paintings, carefully manipulating them into colourful new configurations. These works were exhibited at Depot 2 Gallery, in Sydney in 2014.

His focus then shifted towards the visual possibilities of the painting itself. Compositions became more abstract and dynamic with overlapping shapes pushing against each other. Space became shallow and fluid, with forms defined by planes of colour — for example, a blue rhombus placed up front or a curved red shape receding behind. Each element was arranged to emphasize structure and rhythm, an approach influenced by Cubism and modernist abstraction.

Beare works intuitively, improvising and experimenting as he paints. An idea can shift into a new composition with different visual relationships, evolving as he responds to colour, line and space. Chance is acknowledged, controlled and carefully rearranged. It’s a collage-like process that nonetheless involves thoughtful shaping of form. Each painting emerges from many adjustments, refinements and revisions.

His work is represented in the collections of the University of Wollongong and Charles Sturt University. He has held several solo shows, participated in numerous group exhibitions, and has been a finalist in major awards including the Sulman Prize, Fishers Ghost Art Award, and Mosman Art Prize.