Michael Baggetta’s abstract expressionist artworks are an evolution from his years of drawing and painting, his formal art training, and his professional design background. It is evident that his past experience has shaped 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,” Michael explains.

Michael was born in New Jersey and spent his early years in rural Virginia where his fascination for the natural world was first nourished. Baggetta’s family moved to Southern California and upon graduating high school worked part time for Disneyland where his talent and drive were recognized by the Disney staff. In 1980 he was hired to join the creative team being formed for the planning and development of Tokyo Disneyland. Continuing to pursue creative challenges, he left what had become a lucrative position to attend Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.

Baggetta graduated from Art Center with honors. He quickly developed a reputation as a leading LA based graphic designer and art director, opening his own advertising/design studio, Baggetta + Associates, creating video packaging, posters, catalogs and print advertising for many of the top movie studios in Hollywood, such as MGM/UA, Universal, CBS/Fox, Warner Bros. and Disney / Buena Vista.

Eventually Michael and his family moved north to Portland, Oregon. The combination of the diverse beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the vibrant arts community motivated Baggetta to reconnect with his passion for drawing and painting.  Almost immediately Michael had a resonant connection with the abstract genre, finding a voice in the exuberant layering of paint in the abstract expressionist realm. It is evident that Baggetta’s commercial design background and love of the natural world, strongly influences his artwork with a clarity of design and color.

Each of Baggetta’s pieces begins with rich texturing of the substrate and then the artwork is slowly developed with multiple layers of color; paint mixed with a resin medium. “I allow the unexpected to happen throughout the process and that usually changes my original planning of the artwork.” Through these compositions inspired by the natural world and numerous layers of paint and texture, the results are paintings uniquely transparent, almost ‘dream like’, with rich and active surfaces that speak beyond culture and time.

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