Michael Flechtner

Raised in Tiffin, Ohio, Michael R. Flechtner earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from Columbus College of Art and Design in 1981, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from Wichita State University in 1984.

Interested in neon from an early age, Flechtner honed his glass-bending skills working in a neon sign shop following college. His background in sculpture enabled him to create neon tubing that depicted three-dimensional objects instead of the two dimensional forms typically found in signage and other graphic neon displays.

During the past several years, Flechtner has completed public neon artwork in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Woodland Hills, California. His well-known public works in the Los Angeles area include “A Neon Aquarium” and the animated “A Better Mousetrap.” In addition to creating his own artwork and commercial neon, Flechtner also creates glasswork for other artists who incorporate neon into their artwork.

Flechtner has participated in exhibits in Japan and Taiwan, and his works can be found in many private and public collections, including the Museum of Neon Art in California.

The artist, who works from his studio in Van Nuys, California, also teaches glass bending and neon sign design and has taught American-style glass bending techniques in Japan.