Surrealism gets a facelift with Mike Parsons' light-hearted and imaginative pieces of artwork. They are characterized by unorthodox subjects ranging from the grotesqueness of mass media to the simplicity of a giant cockroach on canvas. Parsons' mediums also vary as much as his subjects, with each painting, etching, and lithograph showcasing his versatility as a young artist. For Serie XIII, Parsons created Day Trip, an image of three children running from a floating monster through a clearing in a forest. The idea came from the common fears of children-and of adults-experienced throughout life and is captured in a comical, animated print. For Parsons, the print is meant to remind viewers of their psychological fears in spite of active imaginations or hallucinatory drugs.

Parsons is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has continued to exhibit and build his portfolio since receiving his Bachelors of Fine Arts in 2004. Parsons is originally a self-taught artist and now resides in Austin with his wife and son.

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