About

Michael’s abstract paintings are grounded in his love of the flat-color aesthetics of vintage screenprints. They feel familiar and yet modern, are simultaneously both calming and energizing. He makes use of color gradients to imply movement, light, shadows, and depth. His work is a meditative practice and is always created by hand, painted without the use of tape or masking, allowing wobbles, smudges, and other imperfections to remain. It is important to him that while each piece is extremely precise, a close examination reveals the handmade nature of the process. Mistakes are left to be seen, the work is consciously imperfect.

Michael attended the University of the Arts for film, and is a self taught painter, muralist, and woodworker.

His paintings are held in many private collections.

His commission clients include Facebook, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Still Austin Whiskey Co, Nordstrom’s, Natiivo, Downtown Austin Alliance, Austin Energy, the City of Smithville Texas, Austin Daily Press, Blackfeather Vintage, Batch Craft Beers, the Little Darlin, Beautiful World Syndicate Records, East Side Glass, and many others.

He has exhibited in New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, Marfa, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and other cities throughout the US.  He was one half of the experimental music duo and printing project, Ospreys, touring extensively from 2005-2009.  He has written about his experiences riding freight trains over the last 22 years for Faded Glory magazine, and for the French book about North American boxcar art, Outside the Box. In 1999, he co-founded the Lost Film Fest, a nomadic film festival.

Michael was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and lived in Philadelphia, PA for thirteen years before relocating to Texas in 2012.