About the artist

Michel grew up in Havana, Cuba. He has been making art since he was 12 years old. At 16, he became an apprentice to an art merchant at the outdoor art market in Havana, and at 18, when the merchant left Cuba, inherited his stall and began selling his own art. He was soon disillusioned by the commercial and political pressures of the market and began taking classes at the San Alejandro art academy. He immigrated to the United States to be with his wife before taking the entrance exam.