Michael Mabry likes to make things look simple, even if they are very complex-in his work. It's less a lack of a bluechip education than a quality of naiveté in his work which draws people in at first glance. His design was described as "a union of things disparate and those strikingly alike. A balance kept by knowing just what is undeniably essential." What is essential to him is that he hits a nerve right off, but that with second and third glances there is something deeper revealed. There is a humorous side so much of the design, with a quirky almost childlike simplicity to balance an overall intuitive sense of reserve in design. Michael Mabry Profile: With a degree in graphic design from Utah University, he started working for the SBG Studio in San Francisco in 1979. Michael Mabry Design was established in 1981. He was the San Francisco General Manager for the American Graphic Arts Association and also on the Board of Directors. He won the Marcy Larson and Belle Ringer Awards in 1989. Exhibition Summary: Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, he was drawn to large cities. Meandering down the paths of design, he got is own small design studio in San Francisco. 140 works made there including posters, packages, illustrations and photos were exhibited. At Gallery Talk: "Funky Elegance."