We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael De Brito a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a living from my creative work, though it certainly wasn’t that way from the start. It’s been a gradual evolution, shaped by persistence, experimentation, and a deep commitment to the work itself.

From early on, I stayed focused on my vision and dedicated myself to developing a strong, authentic body of work. While still in my MFA program, I began showing with a gallery—an important early milestone that offered exposure, helped build a collector base, and affirmed the direction I was pursuing. I committed to producing consistent, evolving work in order to grow within the gallery world and maintain momentum in that space.

A big part of my practice has been applying to exhibitions, pursuing grants, and regularly updating galleries with new work. Keeping my practice in forward motion—visible, active, and in dialogue—has been key to securing opportunities, particularly group exhibitions that open doors to broader networks and future collaborations.

Teaching also became a meaningful part of my income—and something I genuinely enjoy. It keeps me engaged with a creative community while supporting my own studio practice.

So yes, it’s absolutely possible to make a living from creative work—but it’s a journey. One that requires clarity of purpose, resilience, and a deep belief in what you’re building.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Michael De Brito, and I’m a visual artist whose work explores the intimacy, complexity, and quiet beauty of everyday life—often through large-scale figurative paintings centered on themes of family, identity, and cultural memory. I’m originally from New Jersey and of Portuguese descent, and that heritage plays a significant role in my work, informing both the subjects I paint and the emotional atmosphere within the scenes.

I became serious about pursuing art during my early education, but it was during my MFA program that my professional path really began to take shape. While still in graduate school, I began exhibiting with Eleanor Ettinger Gallery in New York—an important early milestone that offered exposure, helped establish relationships with collectors, and affirmed the direction I was heading in. From that point on, I committed to a consistent studio practice, focused on developing a strong, evolving body of work that could grow within the gallery world.

My primary medium is oil painting, but I also work in drawing and occasionally installation. Outside the studio, I engage with the art world through exhibitions, public talks, critiques, and mentoring. For collectors, curators, and clients, I aim to create work that is technically rich and emotionally resonant—pieces that elevate everyday moments and offer a sense of familiarity and depth.

What sets my work apart is its sincerity and attention to the emotional weight of the ordinary. I often paint family members or domestic scenes, not as idealized portraits, but as reflections of real life—full of warmth, quiet tension, and unspoken connection. I’m most proud of how viewers respond to the work—when someone tells me a painting feels like a memory, or reminds them of their own family, that’s when I know it’s doing what it’s meant to do.

For those discovering my work, I want them to know that it’s rooted in honesty and care. My practice is about paying attention—to people, to moments, to the spaces we inhabit—and translating those observations into something lasting. It’s a journey grounded in cultural reflection, personal narrative, and a deep respect for the beauty of everyday life.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the core of my creative journey is a commitment to honesty and connection. My goal has always been to make work that reflects real life—moments that are personal, often quiet, but emotionally layered. I’m drawn to the intimacy of everyday experiences, especially within family and cultural spaces, and I want the work to serve as both documentation and reflection.

There’s also a sense of responsibility in what I do—to represent people and moments with care, and to create images that hold space for memory, identity, and belonging. I’m not trying to chase trends or make work that simply fills a space; I’m trying to build something that lasts, that resonates on a deeper level, and that people feel connected to.

So the mission, really, is about truth—visual, emotional, and cultural. I want to keep growing, keep pushing the work forward, but always with that foundation in mind.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One moment that really reflects my resilience was right after finishing my MFA. I had just started showing with Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, which was a major step forward. But even with that momentum, there was still a lot of uncertainty. The path wasn’t laid out clearly—I didn’t have a blueprint for how to make it all work—but I was fully committed to building a successful art career.

There were times when things moved slowly, or I questioned if I was doing enough, but I never lost sight of the bigger picture. I stayed consistent in the studio, focused on making strong, honest work, and kept pushing forward—applying to exhibitions, sharing my portfolio, staying active and visible. That steady commitment began to open doors, and over time, opportunities grew from there.

What I’ve learned is that resilience doesn’t always show up as a big dramatic gesture. Sometimes it’s about quiet persistence—about trusting your vision, staying present in the work, and being willing to build something meaningful over time. That mindset has carried me through, and continues to shape how I move forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.michaeldebrito.com
• Instagram: @michaeldebrito
• Facebook: @Michael De Brito
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-de-brito-148b3112/
• Twitter: @_debrito_

Image Credits

FOR MYLO, WITH LOVE
Oil on canvas
57 x 80 in

AT THE TABLE
2025
Oil on canvas
7.5 × 5.25 in

WOMAN WITH TEA (Mulher com Chá)
2024
Oil on canvas
24 1/2 x 17 1/2

AVOZINHA
2023
Oil on canvas
25 x 31 in

SERVING CAKE
2021
Oil on canvas
28 x 19 in

JANTAR ARROZ DE MARISCO
2021
Oil on canvas
32 x 26 in

AS VIZINHAS
2020
Oil on canvas
72 x 96 in