Education:
Masters of Fine Arts in Illustration, Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford,
West Hartford, Connecticut, 2011
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Communication concentrating in Medical
Illustration from The Ohio State University Department of Allied Medical Professions.
Columbus, Ohio June 1987.
Professional Experience:
Cooley Studios – Classical Fine Art Studio, Columbus, Ohio
Founder and principal instructor teaching classical fine art and illustration,
02/2012 to present
MACooleyIllustrations, Houston, Texas
Founder and principal medical illustrator, 06/2001 to 2015
Joe W. King Orthopedic Institute, Texas Orthopedic Hospital, Houston, Texas
Senior Medical Illustrator, 05/1999 to 06/2001
University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
Department of Surgery, Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation
Medical Illustrator IV, 07/1997 to 03/1998
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas
Department of Biocommunications
Medical Illustrator III, 02/1993 to 05/1995
Part-time Medical Illustrator for UTMB, 5/95 to 7/97
Freelance Medical Illustrator, 7/97 to present
University Of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio Medical Center Information and Communications Medical Illustrator I, 08/1988 to 02/1993
Published Freelance Work:
Good garden bugs: everything you need to know about beneficial predatory insects, Author Mary M. Gardiner, Ph.D., Published by Quarry Books Beverly, MA, 2015
Clinical Pathology for Athletic Trainers: Recognizing Systemic Disease, 3rd edition, Author: Daniel P. O’Connor PhD ATC; Louise Fincher EdD ATC LAT, Published by Slack Inc., 2014
Atlas of General Surgical Techniques, Published by Elsevier Inc., 2010
Surgical Pitfalls: Prevention and Management, Published by WB Saunders Company/
Elsevier Inc., 2008
Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies, Published by Churchill Livingstone,
Edition 5, 2007
Eat Right-Electrolyte: A nutritional Guide to Minerals in our Daily Diet, Published by
Prometheus Books 2006
Shoulder Arthroscopy, Edition 1, Published by WB Saunders Company, 2003
Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies, 4th edition, Published by Churchill
Livingstone, 2002
Clinical Pathology for Athletic Trainers: Recognizing Systemic Disease, 2nd edition,
Published by Slack Inc., 2001
Review of Orthopedic Trauma, Published by WB Saunders Company, 2000
The Five Minute Ocular Consult and Study Guide for Surgeons & Medical Students,
Published by Williams and Wilkins, 1998
Cardiac Catheterization: Cardiac Consultant for Surgeons, Published by Blackwell
Science Publisher, 1996
Hand Surgery Study Guide, Published by Springer-Verlag, 10/1995 to 2/1996
Woman’s World Magazine, Published by Bauer Publishing Inc., 4/1995 to 10/1995,
(Illustrations to support health articles section)
Method and apparatus for de-airing the heart, Published by Dominus Publishing
Company Inc., 1993, (Illustrations made for journal article)
Foundation for Care Giving Program, Published by Mosby’s Life-line, Inc., 10/1992 to
2/1993, (illustrations depicting proper nursing and care giving)
Clinical Urogynecology, Published by Mosby’s Year Book, Inc., 1992,
(wash illustrations for several chapters)
Swimming Diving Water Safety Book, Published by Mosby’s Life Line, Inc., 7/1991 to
11/1991 (pen and ink illustrations depicting swimming techniques and safety tips)
Cincinnati Sports Medicine, 8/1988 to 2/1993 (orthopedic anatomy and surgical
illustrations for textbooks, journals and slide presentation with air brush, continuous
tone and pen and ink)
Ad-Quity, 1/89 to 2/93 (contemporary non-medical logos, graphics and cartoons with
airbrush, continuous tone, and pen and ink)
Biographics, 3/1989 to 8/1989 (airbrushed medical illustration and medical legal art
with airbrush)
Huntington Clothier and Shirt Maker, 10/1987 to 8/1988 (watercolor fashion
illustrations for company magazine)
Mount Carmel Medical Center, 3/1988 (patient educational booklet on catheter usage
with pen and ink)
Solo Exhibitions:
Classical Drawings and Paintings:
Columbus State Community College, Columbus OH, 2019
Classical Art: Blick Art Material (Utrecht), Exhibition Gallery, Columbus OH, 2016
Classical Portraits: Blick Art Material, Exhibition Gallery, Columbus OH, 2015
Classical Art: Blick Art Material, Exhibition Gallery, Columbus OH, 2014
Classical Art: Blick Art Material, Exhibition Gallery, Columbus OH, 2012
Classical Art: Utrecht Art Supply, Exhibition Gallery, Columbus OH, 2012
Group Exhibitions:
Cooley Studios, Michael Cooley and Students: High Road Gallery, Worthington OH, 2018
Cooley Studios students: Blick Art Material, Exhibition Gallery, Columbus OH, 2015
MFA Graduation Art Show, Donald & Linda Silpe Gallery, Taub Hall,
Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT, 2011
Minority Medical Professionals Art Exhibition, University of Texas Medical Branch,
Medical Library Lobby, Galveston, TX, 1994
Medical Illustration Graduation Art Show, Rhodes Hall Auditorium,
The Ohio State University Hospital Facility, Columbus OH, 1987
Professional Affiliation:
Oil Painters of America, 2017
Portrait Society of America, 2017
Worthington Area Art League, 2016
The Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators, 2011
The Association of Medical Illustrators, 1987
Accomplishments, Awards and Honors:
Artists in the Community Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Professional Development & Research grant award from the Greater Columbus Arts Council to create a body of 50 classical oil portraits, Columbus, OH, 2018
Resource grant award from the Greater Columbus Arts Council to create a body of figurative work, Columbus, OH, 2018
Named one of the top art schools with the best painting and drawing instructor (Michael A. Cooley) in Columbus Ohio by the Expertise Community, 2017 and 2018.
Guest Speaker, My artistic journey and career to the The Illustration Student Collective, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH, 2016
Visiting Artist, Workshop art demonstration in drawing, Columbus Academy High School, Gahana, OH, 2016
Juried The Grove City Arts in the Alley Fine Arts Show Competition, hosted by the Grove
City Arts Council, Grove City, OH, 2014
Artists in the community professional development grant from the Greater Columbus Arts Council to study classical portrait oil painting, Columbus, OH, 2014
Founder owner and principal instructor of Cooley Studios, 2012
Founder owner and principal medical illustrator of Medical Atelier, 2012
Artists in the community professional development grant from the Greater Columbus Arts Council to study classical portrait oil painting, Columbus, OH, 2012
Merit Scholarship Award, Hartford Art School, University of Hartford,
West Hartford, CT, 2011
Emceed the MFA in Illustration graduation reception and art awards banquet at Hartford
Art School, University of Hartford, West Hartford CT, 2011
Founder owner and principal medical illustrator of MA Cooley Illustrations, 2000
2nd Place, Medical Color, Moody Medical Art Competition, Galveston, TX, 1996
Visiting Lecturer, students college and careers, College of Mt. Saint Joseph,
Cincinnati, OH, 1993
Mentored junior high school students while working as medical illustrator at University
of Cincinnati Medical Center, 1988-93
Counseled, reviewed portfolios, and advised pre-college students about colleges to
consider, 1988-93
Certificate of Merit in Medical Line from the Association of Medical Illustrators, AMI
Conference, Chicago, IL, 1992
The first and only African American male to enter, attend, and graduate earning a
Bachelor of Science degree in medical illustration at the Ohio State University, 1987.
Recognized and given a quarter page write up by the Ohio State University’s news paper,
The Lantern for art and being accepted into the medical illustration program at The Ohio
State University, Columbus, OH, 1986
Recognized for my portraits by the Hamilton Journal News Paper and given an eighth
page write up during my senior year in high school, Hamilton, OH, 1981
Recognized for my portraits by the Hamilton Journal News Paper and given an eighth
page write up during my sophomore year in high school, Hamilton, OH, 1979