Michael Swicklik is senior conservator of paintings at the National Gallery of Art. He began his career at the National Gallery as the first Mellon Fellow in Paintings Conservation from 1984 to 1986. Before that, he spent three years in the paintings conservation studio of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth in various roles. Michael received his master's degree in art conservation with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Paintings Conservation from Cooperstown Graduate Program in 1982.