Michael Harnish earned his bachelor and master degrees in painting from the Laguna College of Art and Design, finishing his education in 2010. Harnish was born and raised in Dana Point, moving to Los Angeles after graduating and has most recently taken up residence in Fullerton, CA where he also keeps his studio.

His paintings show a conscious departure from traditional methods of painting in favor of a bold, deconstructive approach to mark making. Currently, Harnish is working with collage, moving back and forth between paper and canvas, exploring the tension between inorganic and organic elements. The breakdown of tradition and the construction of new traditions through practice and discipline is something he has continuously sought from his early days as a graffiti artist to his current studio practice.

Michael has shown in several exhibitions at saltfineart in Laguna Beach as well as throughout Los Angeles and Orange County.