“Everything, everywhere, all at once”

Michael D. King Jr., also known as Modius Modi (b. Detroit, MI, 2001), is an interdisciplinary artist with a BFA in Drawing from Saginaw Valley State University and is currently pursuing his MFA in Fine Arts at the University of Michigan. His work is rooted in the “EDEN” series, an exploration deeply inspired by the nuances of the human condition. Drawing influence from anime, manga, classic art, music, cinematography, and philosophy.

For King, art has been a profound, lifelong companion. It's more than a profession or a passion—it’s a means of survival and self-discovery. "Art didn’t come easily to me," he reflects, "but it’s something that saved me during my hardest times and amplified my best ones. It’s one of the few things that make life worth living." From the early age of three, he began honing his skills, first inspired by a scene in "Dragon Ball Z" that he rewound and replayed, determined to replicate Goku, the series' main character. That goal shaped a creative journey that spanned years, fueled by persistence and a love for filling pages with characters, abstract patterns, logos, and vehicles. Through trial and error, King built his foundation, largely thanks to online tutorials that taught him to refine his style through relentless practice and discipline.

This journey of repetition and persistence underpins King’s philosophy: you must work through the process to achieve greatness; it doesn’t happen overnight. In 2020, he expanded into painting—a medium he initially took up as part of a design class assignment. Although challenging, he soon found a deep appreciation for the abstract style of paint pouring, captivated by how paint could flow freely to create its own paths. With time, he started blending this freedom with technical skill, integrating inspiration from Zentangle patterns and the abstract pen drawings of Peter Draws, an artist whose work left a lasting impact during King’s formative years. Today, King’s paintings often reveal fluid arrangements of shapes and patterns, with a signature style of detailed pen work.

Art has given King an enduring sense of purpose and gratitude. Through creating, he finds clarity, understanding, and an ability to appreciate life, even its darker sides, knowing they enrich the beauty of the good. “Art is my life. It’s what gets me up every day,” he says. For King, each day is a chance to create, to inspire, and to pass on the transformative power of art to others, just as he was inspired along his journey. His work speaks to a deep love for the medium, a commitment to his craft, and an unwavering belief in art’s capacity to connect, inspire, and give purpose.

So, welcome to Modi's world, and thank you for being part of it. He hopes his art may leave you inspired, the same way that other great artists have inspired him.