Wood carving is one of the oldest methods of printmaking, and is what grounds Michael’s practice as a traditional printmaker.

When referencing pop culture or niche imagery there is often a detachment between the project at hand and the authenticity of his practice. The more he indulges in the intersection between traditional and contemporary art - a balance between the old and the new - the more it defines his work.

Through this combination, he is exploring themes of personal queer identity, internalized homophobia and toxic masculinity. By referencing subliminal queer references in pop-culture (magazines, comics, movies), he is subverting the idea that these identities and lifestyles were not present in mainstream media. They are, and have always been, right in front of us.