Born in Canoga Park, CA Michael now calls Seattle home. He attended Southern Utah University with a double major in Theater and Fine Arts. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in 1991. Over the years following he took on many jobs and life experiences, including seasonal work in the Pacific Northwest fishing industry, where he first discovered the uniqueness of Seattle. He has lived in many places including Savannah, GA; Missoula, MT and Kenai, AK.

He received his MFA (Cum Laude) from The New York Academy of Art in 1996. He has taught Figure Drawing at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle between 1998 and 1999. He began teaching at The Academy of Realist Art in 1998 and continues to teach there currently where it is now known as the Gage Academy of Fine Art. He was also invited to teach Painting and Drawing at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL from 1999 to 2001. While at EIU he was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award nominated by students for a teacher whose contribution has had a lasting influence. Michael also currently teaches Painting at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA.

Between 1996 and the present Michael has exhibited in New York, NY; Baltimore, MD; Anchorage, AK; Bluff, UT; Aztec, NM; Seattle, WA; Charleston, IL and Rockford, IL. He has received First Place Awards in two national juried shows, one at the Second Street Gallery in New York, NY and the second at the Robert Canaga Gallery in Eugene, OR.