Introduction

From an early age, self-taught Dutch artist Michiel Nagtegaal (1974) has a passion for 
illustration, graphical design and comics. Although he drops out a four year programme in 
Graphical Design, this passion leads him towards a successful career in the creative world. 
Among other start-ups, he co-founds web agency Supershift. Where he holds a position as 
Creative Director before leaving the company to become a Freelance Designer. During these 
years a strong sense of balance, structure and composition is developed. 
In 2014, while searching for even more creative freedom, he starts putting his illustrations on 
canvas. 
Positive art

The concept of entering a fictitious, colorful world where different rules apply, can be found in 
many of his artworks. It is a way of dealing with the ordinary world around him, which he 
sometimes finds difficult to comprehend. With positivity and happiness as the main themes in 
his work, he attempts to increase both his energy as well as the energy of the spectator. 
The vivid colors and bold, solid lines not only originate from his graphical design background 
but also from a love for the non-conformist skateboarding and graffiti scene. 
Improvisation
Almost without exception, artworks are made without any preliminary sketches or preparation. 
But the apparent simplicity, the ability to improvise and scalability of work are deliberately 
applied properties. It is the only way to avoid limitations and boundaries, to get in the 
nescessary meditative state.
Near future
The never-ending search for balance and structure will be done on different surfaces such as 
textiles, ceramics and metal. But also on new objects, on a larger scale and with greater 
complexity.