Michael Baggetta’s abstract expressionist artworks evolve from his years of drawing and painting, his formal art training, and his professional design background. His past experiences clearly shape the direction of his work. “I’m fascinated with the physicality of paint and the juxtaposition of texture and color to create compositions that are both dynamic and highly poetic,” he explains.

Born in New Jersey, Baggetta began his creative career working part-time at Disneyland, where his talent was quickly recognized. In 1980, he joined the creative team for the planning and development of Tokyo Disneyland. Seeking new challenges, he later left what had become a lucrative position to attend Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, where he graduated with honors.

He soon established himself as a leading Los Angeles–based graphic designer and art director, founding Baggetta + Associates. His studio created video packaging, posters, catalogs, and advertising for major Hollywood studios including MGM/UA, Universal, CBS/Fox, Warner Bros., and Disney/Buena Vista.

Eventually, Baggetta and his family moved to Portland, Oregon. The diverse beauty of the Pacific Northwest and its vibrant arts community motivated him to reconnect with his passion for painting. He immediately found resonance in abstraction, developing a voice through the layering of paint in the abstract expressionist tradition. His background in design and his deep appreciation for the natural world continue to inform his work with clarity, structure, and vivid color.

Each painting begins with textured surfaces and develops through multiple layers of color—paint mixed with resin. “I allow the unexpected to happen throughout the process, and that usually changes my original plan for the work.” The resulting compositions are uniquely transparent, almost dreamlike, with rich, active surfaces that transcend culture and time.

Michael Baggetta’s award-winning artworks are exhibited and collected nationally.