OUTSIDE THE FRAME

Michelle Carnes, MFA | Fine artist, visual designer

Welcome, and thank you for being here.

My life has been shaped by art, and a calling that has remained constant. From my earliest memories, art has been a way for me to make sense of the world. I began figure drawing classes as a child, and it was a formative experience that didn’t just teach me technique, but showed me a space where I truly belonged. Painting, for me, is a space where I can feel free.

Over the years, my practice has evolved across many mediums — graphic design, print, illustration, and oil painting — all which have informed my approach. I am always captivated by the process of uncovering the “why”— understanding the soul behind an idea, a brand, a person. That experience shapes my approach to painting: design brings structure, and in turn, my art becomes a conversation between emotion and form.

I’m endlessly fascinated by people — their expressions, gestures, body language, and the subtle energy they carry. My work explores the tension between what is revealed and what remains hidden, and how we shape, and are shaped by our environments. I’m drawn to our dualities: presence and absence, vulnerability and strength, order and beautiful messiness.

Art is for everyone. Living with original, handmade art is one of the most meaningful ways we can connect to our surroundings, ourselves and eachother.

artist bio

"Michelle’s work is a celebratory excavation of identity, emotion, and presence — grounded in bold self-expression and an unflinching female perspective."

Drawing from her roots in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village and steeped in the cultural richness of Eastern European traditions, her paintings move beyond representation into a realm of intuitive insight — where color, texture, and gesture collide with emotion.

Trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from the age of 11, Michelle's technical command of figure and form serves as a launchpad, not a constraint. Her surfaces — oil on linen and wood — are layered, raw, and alive with motion. Paint flies. Color dances joyously untamed, and like the human experience — unapologetically messy. Yet in that chaos is clarity, celebrating the complexities of womanhood, selfhood, and human connection.

Her work has been exhibited nationally in solo and group exhibitions, and featured on NBC News, at the Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest, Google Intersection, and ChefDance. She has also created installations and public art for private and corporate collections. Michelle holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BA in Visual Communications from the Colorado Institute of Art. Her background in design and creative direction sharpens her understanding of composition and amplifies the emotional architecture of her paintings.

Now based in Northern California’s Bay Area, Michelle continues to evolve her practice — wielding brush and passion in a celebration of color, energy, and the magnificent human condition.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

| 1988 | Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, CO, BA, Visual Communications
| 2020 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, MFA, In-Studio, Painting

CONTINUING EDUCATION

| 2022| Salmagundi, Painting Form + Figure, New York, NY
| 2014-15 | Jeffrey Watts Atelier, painting/drawing, portraits + gesture, Encinitas, CA
| 2004-06 | Don Sahli, last apprentice to Sergei Bongart, Russian Impressionist painting studies, Evergreen/Vail, CO
| 2004-06 | Art Students League of Denver, Mark Daily, ala prima painting from life, Denver, CO

solo Exhibitions

| 2017-present | Joseph Jewell Winery, Resident Artist, Forestville, CA
| 2024 | Usher Gallery, “Cabaret,” Petaluma, CA
| 2022 | Joseph Jewell Winery, “Slava Ukraiyna” Fundraiser for Ukraine, Forestville, CA
| 2017 | Horse + Plow Winery, “Reverence,” Sebastopol, CA
| 2017 | 369 Main Studio, “Untamed,” Sebastopol, CA
| 2016 | Hart’s Desire Winery, “Environments,” Healdsburg, CA
| 2016 | Elle Lui Gallery, “Impact,” Santa Rosa, CA
| 2015 | Buddha’s Palm Gallery, “Angels + Rebels,” Sebastopol, CA
| 2014-25 | Sonoma County Art Trails, Open Studios, Sebastopol, CA
| 2013 | Counter Culture Art Haus, “Wine, Women + Song,” Sebastopol, CA
| 2010 | Hayward Music Center, “Music Muse,” Hayward, CA
| 2008 | Maison Rouge Gallery, "Uptown," Chicago, IL
| 2006 | Russian Ark Gallery, “Out West,” Denver, CO
| 2005 | Denver Press Room, “Heart and Soul of Denver,” | SOLD OUT SHOW, Denver, CO
| 2003 | Emily Griffith Center, “Fourteeners,” Lakewood, CO

group Exhibitions

| 2025 | Sebastopol Center for the Arts, “The Belonging Project,” Sebastopol, CA
| 2023-24 | Bodega Art Gallery, “West County Focus,” Bodega, CA
| 2022 | Sausalito Art Festival Foundation, “Art for Ukraine,” Sausalito, CA
| 2020, 21 | Art Institute of Chicago, MFA Exhibition, Chicago, IL
| 2018 | Unhidden Artist Tour, Denver, CO
| 2018 | Face to Face, “Art for Life,” Santa Rosa, CA
| 2018 | Edwardian Ball, “The Raging Tide,” San Francisco, CA
| 2017-18 | San Francisco Women’s Art Gallery, "Women in Art," San Francisco, CA
| 2014-25 | Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sonoma County Art Trails show, Sebastopol, CA
| 2015, 21 | Graton Gallery, Summer Series, Graton, CA
| 2014, 23 | Corrick’s Gallery, Open Studio preview, Santa Rosa, CA
| 2014 | IceHouse Gallery, Open Studio preview, Petaluma, CA
| 2014 | Studio 333, “California Scapes” Sausalito, CA
| 2012 | Branches Gallery, “Glamping by the River” Guerneville, CA
| 2011 | Alley Gallery | Winterblast, Santa Rosa, CA
| 2009| Richard Schmid Fundraiser | Rist Canyon Fine Art Auction, Fort Collins, CO
| 2007| SouthWest Magazine Plein Air Show | Award-winner, Evergreen, CO
| 2004 | Evergreen Center for the Arts, Plein Air Landscape Paint Out, Evergreen, CO
| 2002 | Evergreen Center for the Arts, 100 Show, Evergreen, CO
| 2001 | Art Students Leauge of Denver, Summer Series, Denver, CO
| 1988 | Colorado Institute of Art, Graduate Exhibition, Denver, CO

experiential art | Environmental design

| 2022-present | Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Lobby Redesign + Wayfinding, Sebastopol, CA,
| 2022 | The Homestead, Nambiti Game Reserve, South Africa
| 2021 | Bricoleur Vineyards, Bastille Day, art + live painting, Santa Rosa, CA
| 2020 | City of Petaluma, Black Lives Matter (BLM) Mural, Petaluma , CA
| 2017, 18, 20 | Somo Village, environmental art installations, Rohnert Park, CA
| 2015-16 | City of Denver, GIVE Masquerade Ball, Denver, CO
| 2015 | Qdoba Restaurant Corporation, “The Quentessa” national art installation
| 2012-15 | Ser La Muse Art Experience, live painting, created + curated show, Bay Area, Northern CA
| 2014 | The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas, NV
| 2013 | Sundance Film Festival, ChefDance Venue, art installation, live painting, Park City, UT
| 2013 | South X Southwest, experiential art, live painting, Austin, TX
| 2013 | The Intersection at Google, experiential art, live painting , Mountainview, CA
| 2011 | Burning Man | Award-winning “Rites of Passage” art installation, Black Rock City, NV
| 2010 | Burning Man | “Metropolis” art installation, Black Rock City, NV
| 2006 | Fascination Street Gallery, art commission, Denver, CO
| 2000 | Coors Brewing Company | “Words Can Heal”, K-12 non-bullying program, Denver, CO
| 1996 | TicketMaster Music Showcase, Denver Entertainer art installation, Denver, CO
|1994-95 | Fey Concerts Red Rocks Summer of Stars, Denver Entertainer art installation, Denver, CO

media coverage

| 2023 | Club Random Bill Maher w/ Gene Simmons | “Matisyahu protests female painter at SunDance”
| 2023 | River Theater Radio, KGGV | “Art Talk” Interviews
| 2017 | KOWS Radio | “Got to Get Back to the Garden” artist interview
| 2015 | Nov. 5, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Qdoba Restaurant “Bathroom Art” bit
| 2013 | The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Red Touch Media, artist interview
| 2012 | Press Democrat, Ser La Muse artist interview
| 2011 | Black Rock City Daily Playa, artist interview
| 2011 | ArtRockX TV, First-Place Award, live painting, San Francisco, CA, 829,000 YouTube views
| 2005 | NBC News, Heart and Soul of Denver, artist Interview, Denver, CO
| 2005 | KUVO Jazz Radio, Heart and Soul of Denver, artist Interview, Denver, CO
| 2000 | Coors Brewing Company | LGBT Pride campaign featured on VH1
| 1996 | TicketMaster Music Showcase, Denver Entertainer artist Interview, Denver, CO
| 1994 | KOOL105 Radio, Denver Entertainer artist Interview, Denver, CO

Speaking Events

|2017| Artist Panel, International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Santa Rosa, CA

Board member

|2017-2018| International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Northern CA Chapter, Santa Rosa, CA

corporate Collections

| 2021 | Bricoleur Vineyards, Santa Rosa, CA
| 2021| Willow Creek Wealth Management, Sebastopol, CA
| 2019 | Sally Tomatoes, Rohnert Park, CA
| 2016, 19 | Potter SchoolHouse, Bodega, CA
| 2017 | Somo Village, Rohnert Park, CA
| 2016 | Community Market, Sebastopol, CA
| 2014 | Red Touch Media, Inc., United States, United Kingdom, South Africa
| 2011 | Aubergines Vintage Emporium, Sebastopol, CA
| 2007, 15 | CRL Associates, Inc., Denver, CO
| 2006 | Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO
| 2006 | RTD FasTracks, Denver, CO

Private collections
| 1995 -25 | Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Boston, New York, Virginia,, United Kingdom, Sweden

HONORS + AWARDS

| 2011 | Burning Man Rites of Passage Metal, Art installation
| 2009 - 10 | Richard Schmid personal art review | Rist Canyon Fine Art Auction, Fort Collins, CO
| 2009 | Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence
| 2008 | National 3CMA Savvy Award
| 2007 | Southwest Art Magazine Plein Air Juror’s Pick Award
| 1998 | Colorado Press Association Award

Member

|2010-Present| Oil Painters of America (OPA)
|2021-Present| Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD)
|2009-2024 | The Graphic Artist Guild

“Everyone who enters the rooms where her work hangs, and I mean every one, both notices and compliments the work! The pieces elicit feelings as the subject matter MATTERS to me and that is evident and also effects the viewers. I will also go so far as to say her art actually inspires more creativity within our household — like a chain of creativity blessings!“

- KIVA B., ART COLLECTOR

"Michelle has provided us with something so valuable to us as a team. We look at the work every day and we are reminded of where we came from, who we are, and what we can achieve together. It is everything that we had hoped we would get. The works have become a centerpiece for our offices, our personalities are right there for all to see and we love it! Working with Michelle was so easy, it felt so effortless to get our thoughts out, the best bit is seeing those thoughts translated into art that we all identify with so easily. Inspiring work and a pleasure to collaborate with."

WAYNE SCHOLLS, REDTOUCH MEDIA, INC.

“Michelle Carnes’ vibrant colors and expressive images capture the personality of her subjects in surprising ways. We commissioned this energetic and engaging piece for a large wall in a media room. It delights our guests as they come down the stairs, and truly defines the space. The intensity of the colors, the play with reflected light and the drama of the brush work and framing preserve its presence even when lights are lowered for movie watching. Michelle is an excellent partner in design and was ready to make suggestions and incorporate our preferences. She was extremely helpful in placement and hanging. The process was entirely enjoyable, and we could not be happier with the outcome.”

ANN B., ART COLLECTOR

"An art campaign strategy for Qdoba® restaurants was to visually communicate an "art persona” for the restaurant chain. I worked with Michelle to help with the brand persona of “The Contessa". Michelle created over fifty original works of art to be reproduced throughout their national restaurant locations. The Chief Marketing Officer and design team were thrilled that Michelle’s work captured the essence and persona of their brand quickly and intuitively. The work she did was rigorous, creative, on time and budget and the client was extremely pleased."

KENDALL PETERSON, THERESQUARED, LLC

"I have had the pleasure of working with Michelle through my agency in Denver for many years. Michelle is one of the most brilliant, creative professionals I know. She has a unique ability to understand what a person is trying to express and deliver the perfect approach to hit the mark and meet their artistic visual goals."

KRISTI ESTES, CIG PUBLIC RELATIONS, LLC