Michael Schmidt grew up in Toronto, Canada where he studied history at The University of Toronto and painting at Sheridan College of Art. He has worked as an artist since moving to the Twin Cities over 30 years ago and works out his home studio in Saint Paul and the Northrup King Building in N.E. Minneapolis. Michael’s paintings have been featured in numerous individual and group shows and can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Michael Schmidt: Mixed media paper collages on board

My paintings explore the colors, shapes, and textures drawn from the often overlooked beauty and visual variety of the urban landscape. Various painting, printmaking, collage and drawing techniques are used in the work. Images and ideas come and go. Elements are added then covered over or sanded away. Once the layering and excavation of visual history is achieved, the final painting is locked in with a hard epoxy resin finish.
The paintings reference time, history, archeology and decay, while also exploring ideas about movement, relationships and visual energy.