Bio

Michelle Atkinson is an internationally awarded artist and designer creating multidisciplinary art based on her own relationship with the environment.

b. 1981 Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she continues to live and practice.

Michelle’s work juxtaposes organic and geometric visuals informed by unconventional processes to create work that evokes a sense of place, shared connection and memory while educating on topics relating to biodiversity and human existence.

Years of investigative refinement of traditional glass techniques as well as exploration in design, fabrication and various artist mediums has moved Michelle into a multidisciplinary fine art practice. She is known for being brazenly experimental with technically complex processes. Thoughtful combination and balance of texture, shape and colour utilizing a range of materials formulate Michelle’s notably haptic works. The natural world and humankind’s effect on the landscape are foundational to the multiple levels of meaning for those who wish to analyze not only the visual manifestation of the work, but also the creation process and often the unique materials utilized.

Atkinson earned a technical design diploma (NMPD’03 with honours) from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada with which she has earned international acclaim and over 30 awards. Currently, her Human Sprawl work is on a full year tenancy at the Leighton Art Centre where she was asked to create a site-specific exhibition for their botanical garden. Coming in December of 2023, Atkinson’s first large-scale permeant public art piece will be unveiled as the entrance to the newly designed Canadian Wilds section of the Calgary Zoo.

I begin conversations about my art by stating that I’m a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on landscape and environment, who’s favourite medium is glass. Right away, this pushes the viewer to question how they define landscape and leaves them open to more non-traditional exhibitions of the subject. The visual landscape around us, the overall human impact on our ecosystem, and our own personal environmental responsibility.

I modify traditional glass processes while adding in other materials, tools and skills amassed over my lifetime of learning and exploration to create my work. Finished pieces are themed by nature and not only visually engaging but also very tactile, breaking down the perceived fragility usually associated with glass. Stimulating these senses tend to trigger memories, creating a shared connection and community with all viewers of the work.

We have so many meaningful topics to discuss in this moment in history, but biodiversity and environmental issues will always be essential. The issue is so large and multilayered, I fear people think they can’t make a difference. If I can inspire even one person to look at their own consumption and effect change in behaviour or provoke them to educate and learn about conservation programs, that’s a win.