Michael DeNeil Kort was born on March 14, 1963 in Los Angeles, California. His grandmother Kay (a photorealist) and mother Linda (a figurative realist) are both artists and his mother has been an art teacher for over 30 years. He completed his first oil painting at the age of 10,  and would not paint again until 1990 at the age of 27. 

In 1979, at the age of 16, Michael founded SCAS Sports Cards. He specialized in buying and selling baseball cards and other sports memorabilia. In 1981, he attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, and while in school he opened up one of the first baseball card shops in Beverly Hills and founded the California Association of Entrepreneurs. He was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal for a front page story. At this time he had an offer from the Entrepreneur Program at USC. 

In 1986, Michael returned to Los Angeles and met Kenneth Gatewood.  He became partners in a contract with Kenneth Gatewood. His goal was to launch his career and and make him famous. In 1988,  he returned to the family business. He started as a messenger driver and within a 3 year period he became president. In 1990, he left this job and continued his partnership with Kenneth Gatewood on a full time bases. From August of 1990 - May 1991, he represented and promoted Kenneth Gatewood and other artists. During this period over 40 watercolor paintings where completed by Kenneth Gatewood. This period ended in a one man show in Beverly Hills for Kenneth Gatewood. 

During this period in 1990-1991 working with artists, Michael started to paint to help him understand the creative process an artist experiences. During this 9 month period, he completed 270 paintings and decided to show his artwork in public for the first time. In April of 1991, he displayed his artwork at Venice Beach, California; with crowds of people admiring his artwork he was encouraged by an artist friend to show his artwork to galleries. Within one week, he was asked to be part of a major group show in Santa Monica that was going to have works by the "Next Generation" of great artists to emerge out of Los Angeles. This was his first major show, and he now decided he wanted to be a professional artist. 

In 1993, Michael was asked to have his art studio in a restaurant inside of the hotel Ma Masion in Los Angeles. As part of an effort to recreate the excitement of Paris, he along with 3 other artists would paint while people enjoyed their meals. It was during this time that he mainly concentrated on "Action Painting", as this style of painting was more exciting to watch. Also in 1993, he was part of a major art show in Encino highlighting artists who specialize in abstract Modern Art. He was also selected to do artwork for the producers of Melrose Place. As well as teaching children at Cheviot Art Center, and he was featured on cable TV throughout the world this same year. 

In 1994,  Michael moved back to Santa Barbara. At this time he became represented by NARSAD Artworks. He returned to finish his education and graduate from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He also pursued a Masters at Antioch University in Clinical Psychology. 

In 1996, NARSAD Artworks published a National poster in a run of 10,000 of one of his paintings called "Celebration". This poster gave him National recognition and was asked to sign copies for the collection of Tipper Gore and Rosilyn Carter. Also in 1996, he was selected to be featured on the Discovery Channel along with Kay Jamison about the link between creative genius and Bipolar Disorder. He was also one of 18 artist selected from a group of 3000 artists world wide to be in a hard bound book called "Sunshine From Darkness".  

In 1996 & 1997, Michael had selected artworks being exhibited around the USA being displayed in galleries, art shows, and museum collections: including selected works on display at "The Exposition & Sales of American Art at the Armory" in Philadelphia, PA. (October 17-19), that was advertised in the magazine Art News. Also in 1997, he had paintings on CBS News "60 Minutes" with Mike Wallace. As well as having the opportunity to meet the Dalai Lama in a private reception as a UCSB alumni.

In the last decade Michael has mainly focused on doing innovative abstract works. He donates artwork on a yearly bases to charities, and usually does one or two shows a year. In 2007, he had the pleasure of meeting one of his favorite living painters Ed Moses and his favorite living architect Frank Gehry. 

Since 2007 his main focus has been to produce art trading cards and promote himself on the Internet. He refers to  himself as a  "Internet Artist", which he feels is a new movement of artists that self promote themselves on the Internet. Michael feels the Internet of today will be much like what Paris, New York, and Los Angeles have been to the art world. 

Michael DeNeil Kort artwork is collected by collectors around the world. He now lives in Palm Desert.  After 20 years of painting he is taking time off  in 2010.