Statement
When I was eight years old, I walked alone into the Arizona desert. I never came back. Everything was new and unexpected. I learned that things are not always as they seem. Those experiences influenced the way I approach and paint the world.
My paintings depict people and experiences and ways that we do not ordinarily see or think about them. They begin with a partially formed idea. Rather than accepting the most obvious interpretation of the subject, I allow the idea to evolve as I paint. They combine history, myth, experiences, identity, the familiar, and the imagined. They are not fantasy, but different ways of seeing what we think we know.
I hope my paintings invite viewers to consider possibilities beyond the obvious. There is almost always more to discover if we are willing to look beyond first impressions, beyond what we expect.
Bio
Michael was born in Wisconsin, spent his formative years in the desert around Tucson, Arizona, traveled and has lived abroad for eight years, and currently lives in Colorado. He has been oil painting since he was 12 years old. From his time in the desert, his paintings deliberately defy expectation and convention to express a vision that lies beyond appearances.
He has a BA in Wildlife Biology, an MFA in Painting, a PhD in Psychology. He studied small mammals, conducted AI research, taught Psychology, and art. His artwork has been exhibited and collected across the United States and in Germany.