Michael Gaines is a visual artist currently living in Greenville, North Carolina, where he is a third year MFA candidate in Photography at East Carolina University. Hailing from Northern Virginia, Gaines was exposed to history, art, and architecture from an early age, all of which continue to inform and influence his work today. In 2004 he moved to Philadelphia, and it was here that his interest in photography was nurtured and flourished. After moving to North Carolina in 2016, he decided to go back to school in pursuit of a degree in photography, which has since expanded to include interests in alternative photographic processes and bookmaking. He received two Associates degrees from Central Piedmont Community College in December 2018, and his BFA in Studio Art from Appalachian State University in May 2021. 

 

As well as being an artist, Gaines is an avid historian and has been researching the life of beer brewer Robert Portner and the history of his summer home Annaburg for nearly 30 years. He has written two books, spoken at several symposiums, and curated a museum exhibit on the subject, and serves as a consultant to on-going restoration and rehabilitation efforts at Annaburg.