Originally from the suburbs of New Orleans, Michael currently resides in Florida with his wife, daughter, and son.

Michael started his illustration career in 1997 after graduating from the Savannah College of Art & Design. Since then he has worked as an illustrator, concept artist, art team lead, and professor. Over his many years in the publishing and gaming industries, he has fostered an obsession with drawing angry robots and giant-lizard-type-critters whenever he can get away with it.

During the day he can be found Teaching at Ringling College of Art + Design and/or slaving over a hot Cintiq, scribblin' out illustrations and concept art. At night he spends his time playing with traditional media on personal projects which may or may not be released some day to great fan fare and single handedly cause world peace to break out or, at least, make some viewer say, "Wow, that is one cool heavy jawed lizard-type-critter being ridden by one angry robot."

Exploring, teaching, and learning digital and traditional media in a collaborative environment underpinned with a foundation of scientific understanding of why an image can impact and manipulate an audience through color theory, composition, semiotics, and symbolism.

• Instructor of Visual Development & Digital Art; Game Art & Virtual Reality Departments; Ringling College of Art + Design; Sarasota, FL; August 2017 - Present.
• Freelance Illustrator & Concept Artist; Self Employed: Sarasota, FL; 1997 - Present.
• Co-Owner & Art Director; The Source for Art LLC: Miami, FL; December 2015 - 2017.
• Senior Concept Artist; Shiver: Miami, FL; November 2014 - December 2015.
• Senior Concept Artist; Mythic: Fairfax, VA; May 2011 - July 2014.
• Lead Concept Artist; EA Mythic; Fairfax, VA; August 2005 - January 2010.
• Professor of Illustration & Sequential Art; Communication Arts Department;
  Savannah College of Art and Design; Savannah, GA; August 2004 - August 2005.
• Graduate Teaching Internship, Introduction to Illustration; Communication Arts Department; Savannah College of Art and Design; Savannah, GA; Fall Quarter 2003.
• Graduate Teaching Internship, Digital Coloring: Comics; Communication Arts Department; Savannah College of Art and Design; Savannah, GA; Fall Quarter 2003.

• Master of Fine Art Savannah College of Art and Design 2004 Illustration
• Bachelor of Fine Art Savannah College of Art and Design 1997 Sequential Art

• Publishing:
  Random House Books / Ballantine Books / Paizo Publishing / Baltimore Sun / Wizards of the Coast / White Wolf / Alderac Entertainment Group / Third World Games / Palladium / Steve Jackson Games / Pinnacle Entertainment Group / Sabertooth Games / Games Workshop / Green Ronin Publishing / Z-Man Games / Gold Rush Games / Five Rings Publishing / Sovereign Press / Fantasy Flight Games / Monkey God / Face 2 Face Games / Kosmos Games / Sony Online / Precedence Entertainment / Electronic Arts / UpperDeck / Blizzard Entertainment / Privateer Press / Monte Cook / Onyx Path
• Corporate:
  Gannett / House of Blues New Orleans & Saucer Seed / 2nd Circle Productions / FS Productions / CCP / BSI Comics / Direwolf Digital / Verdigris / Broadsword Entertainment / Electronic Arts / 38 Studios
• Institutional :
  Tulane Regional Primate Center / American Society of Primatologists / Savannah College of Art & Design / Georgia Music Hall of Fame / Galerie Eclat / Dream Think Imagine

Warhammer Age of Reckoning / Kingdoms of Amular / Dark Age of Camelot / Ultima / Dungeon Keeper / Warhammer Wrath of Heroes / Hearthstone / Magic the Gathering Online / Eternal

• PADI / NAUI / DAN
• ACLU
• NRA
• GenCon 2004 Art Show Juror’s Choice Ribbon
• Magna Cum laude (BFA)
• National Dean’s List (BFA & MFA)
• SCAD Fellowship; awarded August 2002; SCAD (MFA)
• Marian Edna Effing Portfolio Scholarship; awarded August 1994; SCAD (BFA)

• GenCon Art Show 2013; Indianapolis, IN USA
• Art of RPGs, August 2012; Seattle, WA USA
• LeewiArt: The Character (2011)
• GenCon Art Show 2011; Indianapolis, IN USA
• Spectrum 18 “The Best in Fantastic Art” (2011)
• Spectrum 17 “The Best in Fantastic Art” (2010)
• The Art of Warhammer Online (2008)
• Spectrum 14 “The Best in Fantastic Art” (2007)
• The Horus Heresy, Collected Visions (2007)
• The Horus Heresy, Volume 2: Visions of Treachery (2005)
• The Horus Heresy, Volume 1: Visions of Darkness (2004)
• Spectrum 11 “The Best in Fantastic Art” (2004)
• GenCon Art Show 2004; Indianapolis, IN USA
• Graduate Thesis Show; March 2004; Savannah, GA USA
• Hidden Exhibition; May 2003; Savannah, GA USA
• Voyages Show; August 2002; Tel Aviv, Israel
• Selected Works by Michael Phillippi; Galerie Eclat; January 2002; New Orleans, LA USA
• GenCon Art Show 2002; Milwaukee, WI USA
• GenCon Art Show 2001; Milwaukee, WI USA
• GenCon Art Show 2000; Milwaukee, WI USA
• SCAD Senior Show; May 1997; Savannah, GA USA