Brief history…

Born December 12, 1965, New York City. His father owned a fine art moving business and his mother was a Playright/Director at Cafe LaMama in its inaugural year. They were surrounded by a diverse crowd of artists, such as filmmaker Gary Galsworth and painter Charles Mingus Jr.. Michael’s family moved across the USA, living in Madison and Santa Fe, and finally settling on Whidbey Island in Washington State. He spent his teenage years clearing a six acre plot of land with his family and building their home - a seven sided geodesic dome. Michael attended The Evergreen State College from 1983-87, studying film and photography. After graduation he took his camera and, over a ten year period, traveled extensively throughout Europe. While traveling he lived with, performed with, and documented circus performers and their communities. Michael moved to St. Louis in 2001, started an art gallery with Alicia and William LaChance and began working full time as an artist - a lifetime dream. With no formal education as a painter, Michael draws on his eclectic past for inspiration - strongly influenced by his travels throughout Spain and France and rich colors and textures marked by time. His artwork is collected by individuals and corporations worldwide.

My paintings are meditative and vibrant studies with by rich colors and bold graphic compositions. I use circles, grids, and stripes in my work, employing a symbology with a universal allure that drawing viewers in and holds them to explore the subtle intricacies. The intention behind my pieces is to captivate, calm and inspire the viewers imagination.

Operating within the realm of abstraction, I aim to present something universally resonant, open to interpretations that are uniquely individual and capable of evolving over time. A recurring theme in my paintings revolves around the interplay between rigid linear forms and the organic flow of nature, navigating the delicate balance between order and disorder. Much like the skeletal lines of a dried leaf or the ever-changing patterns in atmospheric clouds, there exists a loose geometry that mirrors the dynamic nature of our society and the human yearning for a connection beyond the sterile embrace of modern technology.

I believe that the fusion of these contrasting elements contributes to a universal harmony in my artwork. My pieces are not only visual narratives but also reflections on the act of painting itself. I delve into the physicality of my materials, often leaving evidence of my body's motion as a natural pendulum and the random arcs of my markings on the canvas. Additionally, some works are executed on wood panels, where I apply a plaster mixture that I carve into before it sets, evoking the imagery of old nautical maps and celestial charts. Subsequent layers of color washes, created by thinning oil paints with a clear oil-based polyurethane medium, produce a surface that is richly colored and almost glass-like.

My commitment to unique and original methods of application is evident throughout my artistic process. The tactile surfaces of my paintings and the transparent, linear handling reveal the chronological evolution of each piece, resulting in an intriguing surface treatment imbued with a sense of history and 'archeology.' Each creation becomes a testament to the physicality of the artistic journey, leaving the viewer with a profound and layered visual experience.