Michael Gallegly

I am a multifaceted creative living near Chicago, Illinois. My personal projects span digital design, code-based and traditional digital art, photography, and music. Across each discipline, I’m driven by a fascination with atmosphere, emotion, structure, and texture, always exploring how visual and sonic experiences can resonate in the moment and linger long after.

Professionally, I design and build digital experiences ranging from large-scale B2B and B2C websites and content platforms, interactive content experiences, and enterprise applications and products.

ART

My art is a created through a combination of code, texture, and intention, using custom-built applications and traditional digital design tools. I am heavily inspired by the clarity of Bauhaus design, the dense geometry of brutalist architecture, the layered nature of collage, and the grid-based structures of Swiss Design. Each image emerges from a structured visual system, where thoughtful decisions and creative variation come together to produce truly unique outcomes.

In 2026 I launched Shape & Place, where a variety of my images can be purchased, both framed and unframed.

PHOTOGRAPHY

I take photos of landscapes, cities, nature, textures, and people, and I have been fortunate to explore places like Iceland, Ireland, Italy, and Paris, along the California coast, the Rocky Mountains, my home state of Texas, and various places in the Midwest. These days I'm using a Fuji X-T2 and X70, and a few old Pentax and Nikon film cameras, and whatever iPhone is current.

MUSIC

I make instrumental and ambient music as The Ageless Sea. Inspired by years of influence from bands like The Cure, Mogwai, Sigur Ros, and Hammock, my music is a blend of emotive melodies and cinematic soundscapes meant to evoke feelings of nostalgia, contentment, and peaceful optimism.

I've been a guitarist, singer, and songwriter for over 30 years, led Chicago band The Atlantic Divide from 2004 to 2010, and since 2011 have been focused on evolving my own style and approach to songwriting that reflects my love of modern film scores and a broad range of 21st century composition. 

My debut project, Eternities, should hopefully be released towards the end of 2026.

DESIGN

I'm a mix of many things: web designer, UX designer, strategist, and design technologist. I've been designing and building websites since before the days of responsive design and CSS, and across that time I've gained a wealth of experience that helps me deliver highly impactful, intuitive, and enjoyable digital experiences ranging from content-rich websites for B2B and B2C businesses, immersive content experiences, digital platforms, and enterprise applications and products.

I specialize in modernizing complex systems and helping teams navigate ambiguity, and I have a savvy instinct for designing with real-world implementation in mind, allowing me to easily bridge design, business and development. I'm a relentless advocate of close collaboration across project teams, always striving to align ideas, refine direction, and properly define success to help bring meaningful digital experiences to life.

CONTACT

Name
© Michael Gallegly 2026. All rights reserved.