After moving to Boston in 1996, Michael Eder was first inspired by the vertical machinery from the Big Dig construction that surrounded his studio.  A common thread emerged in his work, one that combined  strong, layered colors with a desire to evoke a specific place.

A visit to the civil war battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania triggered a shift in the focus of Michael's work.  He was captivated by the beauty of the landscape that contrasted so poignantly with the events of the past.  Painting a place began to include the memories the landscape held, leading to larger and more turbulent canvases.  He used photos of the Civil war to guide him, which in turn led to studying documentary photos of other conflicts.  He did a series of painting and prints of the Vietnam war ("Rice Fields").  Michael is currently working with images from Apartheid South Africa and the Civil Rights movement.