Michael Burke's works consist of cut and etched aluminum sculpture, drawings, collage, prints and etchings, and a series of metal books. He has exhibited widely in the US, Japan, and Europe, including installations in an Etruscan tomb in Bassano in Teverina, a church in Viterbo, and at the port city of Savona.

His background includes astronomy, urban planning, teaching, poetry and writing. Having first studied science and architectural studies at Harvard University, he then began professionally as an astronomer withthe Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The field allowed him to work in observatories from Hawaii to Iran. A second career followed when he returned to Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture and City Planning. He remained at Columbia to teach, and then worked with the city planning department in Lindsay's administration in NYC.

In the 70's he finally quit any structured employment, moved into an illegal loft in Tribeca, and began painting. Throughout his life he has written and published poetry and recently published a novel, Swan Dive.

Given this diverse background it is not surprising that Burke's art includes many references to science, architecture and literature.