Michelle Atkinson is an internationally awarded artist and designer creating contemporary artwork based on her own evolving relationship with the environment 

BIO

Michelle Atkinson is an internationally awarded multidisciplinary artist specializing in themes of environmental sustainability and based in Calgary, Alberta. Before fully dedicating herself to entrepreneurship, Michelle amassed extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, cultivating a career in visual communications that spanned over 20 years. She has earned more than 30 awards for her innovative design work. Michelle has successfully led teams through national advertising campaigns, large-scale corporate rebrands, and complex website and app developments, providing expertise in strategy, project management, and creative direction.

Michelle’s pioneering art techniques have been featured in prominent art magazines. She is the only artist to win the Made in Alberta Awards (hosted by Avenue magazine) three times across three distinct categories in consecutive years (2019, 2021, 2022). In 2023, her first large-scale permanent public art installation debuted as the entrance to the newly designed Wild Canada section at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. Her most recent commission for the Calgary Stampede’s corporate art collection is showcased in the newly renovated BMO Centre. Michelle’s work is represented in galleries across Western Canada.

STATEMENT

Driven by a profound desire to understand, protect, and preserve the natural world, my artistic practice spans a diverse array of mediums, exploring the interconnectedness of human actions and environmental systems. Foundational to my work are elements of data visualization, material experimentation, and a commitment to sustainability, often expressed through the use of light, texture, and innovative recycling techniques. By transforming discarded picture frame glass into glitter-like sand or reshaping liquor bottles into delicate, lifelike flowers, my art challenges perceptions, sparking conversations about the fragile beauty and complex ecosystems we depend on but too often take for granted.

My portfolio ranges from striking sculptures to intricate wall art and immersive themed installations, each piece designed to evoke a sense of place, shared connection, and an almost haunting nostalgia. This layered approach educates audiences on biodiversity and humanity’s role within it, leaving a lasting impression that bridges understanding and action.

In my latest body of work, I employ extreme historical weather data to create protozoic shapes—abstract, organic forms that serve as the building blocks for sculptural cloud-like compositions. These captivating arrangements disguise the disastrous narratives embedded within, using polished, alluring materials to echo the distractions of algorithm-driven media and consumer culture. By encouraging audiences to look beyond the surface, my work provokes deeper reflection and underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges we face.