Phillip Michaels is a contemporary abstract painter whose work explores the intersection of intuition, spirituality, and the creative process. Born in Chicago in 1987, his artistic journey began after a transformative period of travel and self-discovery, including time spent at an ashram in India, where painting became a deeply personal and spiritual practice. He later studied at Stony Brook University, the Florence University of the Arts in Italy, and earned his BFA from Hunter College in New York. Today, he lives and works between New York City and the Hamptons. Rather than approaching a canvas with a fixed plan, Phillip paints intuitively, allowing each brushstroke to guide the next. His layered compositions reflect moments of curiosity, openness, and presence, inviting viewers to discover their own meaning rather than offering a single interpretation. Phillip speaks openly about the artists who have shaped his artistic vision. He draws inspiration from the expressive freedom of Willem de Kooning, the emotional intensity and spirituality of Mark Rothko, the poetic abstraction of Cy Twombly, and the dynamic energy of Joan Mitchell. While their influence can be felt in his appreciation for gesture, color, and emotion, Phillip’s work is ultimately driven by his own belief that painting is a form of meditation and a conversation with the unknown. *** Michaels' artwork is currently showing at Miriam West Village, 140 Seventh Ave South New York, NY ***