Fascinated with art from an early age, Michael's work, whether it is resin sculpture or graphite on paper, always speaks of memories, and is a reflection on day-to-day experiences. As a child Michael was full of curiosity, and often experimented with various artistic media, but it wasn’t until the early '90s that he had any formal training. It was then that Michael studied under well-known Houston artist Philip Renteria at the Glassell School.

His primary experience with art, however, has come through pure experimentation. Fascinated by a friend's collection of resin automobile gear shift knobs, Michael set out to make his own. Having no experience working with resin, he began researching the possibilities of the material, which is how he happened on the work of Florence Pierce. Her luminous resin reliefs immediately spoke to the young artist, and he soon began "mimicking the master" in order to better understand the medium.

The individual circles are painstakingly created using multiple layers of thin, colored resin, some with molded resin shapes suspended in the middle. Despite all his planning, the nature of resin and the pouring process still allows for the element of chance. It is this aspect of the resin that Michael has had to learn to work both with and against. Resin is not a forgiving medium, and as many of his molded pieces make it into the trash heap as into finished pieces.

Then, of course, there is the task of making the individual circles function as a whole. Since each piece is created with a certain mood or memory in mind, there isn't one simple answer as to how they should be arranged. It is only with patience and a lifetime of experimentation that Michael de La Cerda has been able to find that balance.