Michael Polakowski grew up in Dearborn, MI (USA) and after graduation (BFA) he founded a cooperative studio space as a part of the Fisher Building Creative in Detroit where he has based his painting practice for the past 5 years. Working with local galleries such as Playground Detroit, The Scarab Club, and 1xRun, he developed the conceptual and visual identity for his work. In 2019 he was awarded the Red Bull Artist Residency and created corporate commissions in partnership with Library Street Collective, The Platform and Collectors Anonymous. In 2022 he participated in an artist residency with Gunner Animation that allowed him to explore how technology could play a role in furthering his painting practice. Informed by that experience, he pushed his work to further explore the relationship between physical and digital mediums and exhibited internationally with Thinkspace Projects in London, Nothing at All in Hong Kong, and 19 Karen in Australia.