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 who creates contemporary artwork based on the environment and humanity’s effect on it. Atkinson earned a graphic design diploma (NMPD’03 with honours) from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada with which she has garnered international acclaim and over 30 awards. She was published in Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine (’19) for her copper electroforming work. The only person to win the Made in Alberta Awards (Avenue magazine) three times in three categories over three years (’19, ’21, ’22). Recently she obtained grants from both the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (’22) and the Canadian Council for the Arts (’21) for a year-long installation work at the Leighton Art Centre (’23). Atkinson also donates her time yearly to the Rotary Club of Heritage Park’s Second Chance Art Sale and reclaims broken picture frame glass as part of her practice. Atkinson’s first large-scale permanent public art piece was unveiled as the entrance to the newly designed Wild Canada section of the Calgary Zoo (’23). Her most recent art commission for the Calgary Stampede’s corporate art collection can be found in the newly renovated BMO Centre (’24).

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.