Michelle is a Sydney based Visual Artist with a Fine Arts background, currently immersed in her painting practice full time after a substantial career in Visual Arts education.
While much of Michelle’s earlier work reflected her Northern Beaches origin, she has extended her exploration and documentation of places and objects of significance across a range of locations and people groups.
In 2021 she concluded a residency in the Alfred St Studios, Milsons Pt under the North Sydney Council Arts and Culture program. The Body of Work completed within this Residency contributed to a very successful exhibition in the North Sydney Council Chamber’s inTransit Art Space from 31st March to 4th May 2021 entitled “Locale “.
Michelle also contributed to the “Homeward Bound” initiative of the North Sydney Council Arts and Culture from March 10th to 21st as well as the Headland Artist exhibition in the Landship, Georges Heights from March 20th to 28th and was a Finalist in Mosman 2088 earlier that year.
Michelle has participated in a number of other exhibitions including a joint exhibition with Deidhre Wauchop in May 2019 in the Creative Space in Abbott Rd , Curl Curl. Deidhre and Michelle were high school buddies and reunited after substantial careers in the Visual and Performing Arts. They entitled their venture “D & M’s High School Reunion ” representing concepts of SPIN and ICONIC respectively.
Michelle has been a finalist in the Northern Beaches Art Prize, Artisans in the Garden, Cultivate and Calyx in the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, Mosman 2088, the Mosman Art Prize and the National Emerging Artist Prize 2022 as well as taking on numerous commissions.
In 2022 Michelle won first prize in the inaugural Art@Mosman Rowers ( acquisitive ) as judged and awarded by Ken Done. She also exhibited as finalist in “In This Box ” in the Corner Store gallery in Orange February 16th -26th and within “Mix Tape” in January and February – a group exhibition in the inTransit Art Space in the North Sydney Council chambers in Miller St, North Sydney.
She has been delighted to take up an ongoing lease in Building 4 of the Headland Artist Precinct, Georges Heights, Middle Head and held a solo exhibition in Mosman Art Gallery entitled “Locale II , a range of painted responses to titled structures in that area, running April 23 – June 26, 2022 within the Local Artist in Profile program. She also contributed a number of works to IN THE FRAME, a group exhibition in Sydney Rd Gallery, Balgowlah from June 23rd to July 17th as well as ongoing supply to the Corner Store Gallery in Orange.
The Mosman Art Prize held it’s 75th exhibition in 2022, 27th August – 10th October in the Mosman Art Gallery and Michelle was privileged to be a finalist with her entry “Cockatoo Island Conversation “.
The National Emerging Artist Prize is in its second year and Michelle was thrilled to be included with her entry “Onwards” . It was held from November 3rd -13th in the Michael Reid Art Bar, Pyrmont.
Going forward , Michelle is currently busy with many commissions including three large pieces for North Sydney Council to add to her two already in their collection. She is also extending her CBD : Cast and Carved series that responds to sculptural landmarks in Sydney. This year she has also been a finalist in the Mosman Rowers Art Prize, Mosman 2088 in Mosman Art Gallery , Inside this Box exhibition in the Corner Store Gallery Orange and enjoyed speaking on “Artist Life” on International Women’s Day at the Mosman Rowers.
In addition, she is excited to participate in the Affordable Art Fair as one of 10 exhibitors within the Micheal Reid NEAP space in June ( 15th – 18th, Royal Randwick Racecourse ) and will also be part of the “Quiet” exhibition in the Corner Store Gallery, Orange ( August 16th – 27th ).
Michelle finds much inspiration in the works of Edward Hopper who stated “what I wanted to do was paint sunlight on the side of the house “. She finds enormous beauty in the light and angles of the everyday and values the stories that can be found in the built environment.
Michelle Arnott Art 