Michael is a metalsmith and digital sculptor working with combinations of hardware and sensory data searching for novel ways to develop 3d form and meaningful context. He is a contributor and 3D Output Coordinator for The Studio at SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques) http://www.siggraphstudio.org

Michael Gayk earned an MFA from University of Washington in Metal and Jewelry Design and a BFA in Metal Design from the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. While studying in Detroit, he worked at General Motors as a clay modeler in the APEX Studio (Advanced Portfolio and Experimental). Before coming to South Carolina, Michael has spent 7 years as a instructor of art and industrial design at various universities and design schools around the United States. During that time he has taught CAD and Rapid Prototyping at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design Objects Department; has taught Metalsmithing and Model Making for Industrial Design at Kendal College of Art; and has been on the faculty for the University of Washington and Winthrop University.

During 2007-10 he has worked as an Instructional Developer for 3D Systems University, responsible for researching and documenting additive manufacturing processes and related software. Michael has led design initiatives for local and state (SC) researchers and entrepreneurs in jewelry, bio-printing, military armored vehicles and various consumer products. Currently he is Instructor of Digital Design at York Technical College.

He can be contacted at michaelgayk@gmail.com