About CorteseArt

I'm Michael S. Cortese Jr., a self-taught artist and the creator behind CorteseArt. I've been drawn to making art since I was a child, when I discovered the freedom of picking up a pencil and simply creating whatever I could imagine. An elementary school art teacher encouraged me to join an after-school art program, and that early experience sparked a passion that has stayed with me ever since.

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My work is rooted in color, pattern, texture, mark-making and abstract design. I enjoy the freedom of working without a predetermined outcome, allowing each layer to influence what comes next. I often begin with an idea, a color palette or simply a feeling, then build, cover, uncover and reshape the composition until the painting feels complete.

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My background outside of art has also influenced the way I create. I studied engineering and spent my career working in analytics, where I learned to look for patterns, relationships and balance. I find myself using those same instincts when I work on a canvas—experimenting, reacting to what is happening in front of me and making decisions one layer at a time.

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Music has always been another important source of inspiration for me. It has a way of changing a mood, creating energy and allowing you to let go for a while. I hope my artwork can do something similar. Whether a piece catches your attention because of its color, movement, texture or simply the way it makes you feel, my goal is for it to bring a little of that same energy and enjoyment into your space.

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Thank you for taking the time to explore CorteseArt and my work.