When he was 8 years old, Michael walked into the Arizona Desert, alone. He never came back. Everything was new and unexpected. Those experiences influenced his outlook on life and art. They taught him to look beyond the surface.
 
Michael was born in Wisconsin, spent his formative years in 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, and traveled and lived abroad. His artwork has been exhibited and collected across the United States and in Germany.