Michael (Miguel) Arias was born in Santiago de Cuba into a family of artists and since early childhood he stood out as one. In 1961 he left his native country by means of the "Peter Pan" movement of the Catholic Church that helped so many young Cubans escape the Communist regime of Fidel Castro.

His first destination was Miami and soon Chicago, where he attended private classes in "still life" and portrait. From that time on he began to feel a common bond with the great impressionist masters. Two years later he returned to Miami and joined his parents, brothers and sister. Together they soon moved to Puerto Rico. In 1974 he married the woman who has been his wife for 40 years, Cuban soprano Cristy Arias.The couple has three sons and nine grandchildren.

In Puerto Rico he attended art classes at the "Escuela de Arte de San Juan Puerto Rico" and became a student of the famous sculptor and painter Lopez Dirube.

In 1982 Michael and his young family moved to Miami once more where they live until the present moment. During this time of his life, Michael continued his artistic career, participating in various exhibitions in Miami and Puerto Rico.

Up until 1999 Michael's work is noted for its realism in his still life, portraits and landscapes. For many years his art was a permanent fixture at the Coral Gables International Art Gallery.

On October 18th of that same year, while exercising at home, he suffered a fall that caused him to become paralyzed from the chest down. With only a slight movement in his left arm, and with no grip in his hands, he found himself unable to carry out the most basic, simple things.

In an instant, his life changed and he had to resign himself to live a life full of limitations, including having to abandon one of his major passions: painting. After 9 long years from the date of his accident, still unable to hold a brush in his hands, a new phase of his art was born.

Encouraged by his friend, art teacher and painter Sunny Marquez, he found an innovative way to insert the brush into a splint in his left arm. This gave way to his finally being able to express on canvas the inspiration that had long been "trapped" in his heart and soul!

His newly found style of painting is abstract expressionism. Quoting Michael Arias: “God has given me the gift (l'd rather call it THE MlRACLE) of allowing me to paint again. From the moment I wake up every morning, I can't wait to go in front of my easel, with the brush attached to my left arm, to unleash this incredible inspiration that gives new meaning and purpose to my life".

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