Michael Goettner

Artist of Transportation

Michael Goettner, originally from Germany, lives in Sylvania, Ohio. He became a U.S. citizen and adopted Adrian, Michigan as his American home-town. An art education was achieved at Ferris State University. Upon graduation, he entered the military and served with the Army First Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam.

Michael pursued two career paths, (industrial design, and fine art). He ultimately became the manager of Creative Design with Owens Illinois, the world’s leading container company, and continues today as an independent consultant. Michael is a former member of the Industrial Designer’s Society of America, and has fifty design patents.

Although Goettner has been an artist his entire life, the fine art career began with private commissions, and illustrations for an ad agency for automotive companies including Dana Corporation, and  Kenworth Trucks, to name a few. The design element also played a roll with after-market ground effects, and wing designs for Corvettes. “My long time passion for automobiles became the focus of my art. I have a strong interest in self propelled objects. I prefer to paint in the realistic style, and industrial design was a major influence.”

Goettner’s art has been exhibited, or hangs in locations around the world from Automobili Lamborghini in Italy, the Pole Position Gallery in Paris, the renowned Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum, and the Automobile Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in such publications as Automobile Quarterly, Auto Aficionado, as well as Motor Trend. His exhibitions include the Meadowbrook, Hilton Head, Houston, Glenmoor, Gilmore, and Keenland Concours d Elegance to name a few. He has art awards from most of the major venues, and has been the featured artist at several.

Michael is a military artist with the Air Force Art Program, and the Army National Guard. Two aviation paintings are in the Pentagon Air Force art collection, and a historic painting will be located in the Kentucky Military Museum. Additional work hangs in Air Force facilities around the world.

“I have been fortunate for the opportunity to exhibit with the most renowned automotive, and aviation artists in the world. I view every new painting as an opportunity to showcase the art in transportation.”