Mike Stilkey is an American contemporary artist best known for his distinctive style of painting on books. He was born in 1975 in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in the South Bay area. Stilkey received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Stilkey's artwork often involves painting on discarded books, creating whimsical and dreamlike scenes that seem to emerge from the pages. His unique style combines elements of painting, sculpture, and collage, and often features anthropomorphic animals and human figures. Stilkey has exhibited his work in galleries and museums throughout the United States and abroad, and his artwork is included in many public and private collections. In addition to his book-based artwork, he has also created large-scale installations and murals. Stilkey has said that his work is inspired by his love of books and the stories they contain. He has also noted the influence of surrealism, outsider art, and the work of artists such as Max Ernst, René Magritte, and Jean Dubuffet.