Born in 1995, Michael Almeida Machado is a writer and curator from Lausanne (Switzerland), with Portuguese roots, who stands at the intersection of literature and visual arts. Equipped with a Master’s degree in English and Art History, he channels his passion into poetry, prose and essay writing, capturing the essence of artworks as well as literary pieces in a way that challenges norms and celebrates diversity through a queer and homoerotic lens.

His artistic practice and specialisation find form through the literary device of ekphrasis. The most common definition of the term “ekphrasis” used in research is found in Ekphrasis and Representation (1991) by James A. W. Heffernan, presented as: “Ekphrasis is the verbal representation of a graphic representation.” The literary device can therefore be more broadly defined as a textual description of an artwork or a verbal imitation of the latter. It also employs the vocabulary of painting in relation to composition, colour, and painting technique. Essentially, it translates from the visual to the verbal. Moreover, the literary process can transcend its descriptive property by adding a narrative element to the description of a painting or even placing itself within a narrative, interacting with its characters, all while remaining highly relevant to the plot of a story.

As an artist-writer, his work has spanned various mediums and themes, from exploring love and loss in “Another morning without u – Robert Mapplethorpe Parrot tulips (1988)” for the Extra.Collective exhibition “Why Don’t You Love Me Anymore” at Espace TOPIC in Geneva, in 2023, to writing about the risks in performative arts for the annual magazine of DogoResidenz für Neue Kunst residency in Lichtensteig (SG), in 2021. In his role as a co-curator and guest at the Volkstheater Wien event “Words & Images: How to Be Both” in 2022, he presented his research in an interview-style format, organised the event alongside Nick Romeo Reimann (VIE), and produced a poem that was read and presented during the evening. This experience of blending academic research with creative output is something he aims to engage in more. In 2021, he co-curated two exhibitions in Zurich, SEEMINGLY UNFINISHED at Kulturfolger with Marcel Hörler (ZH) and In-Between and Around the C at RoteFabrik with Luca Büchler (ZH-VIE). The latter was part of Summer Camp 2021 Festival, where his responsibilities included artist liaison, venue management, and contributing to the artistic organisation. He also had the opportunity to deliver a talk on “Edwin Morgan’s Love Poetry” at ZHdK. In essence, his diverse professional experiences have equipped him with a unique blend of critical analysis, creative expression, and a deep understanding of literature and visuals arts combined.

He is currently based in Lausanne, Switzerland.