CV
MICHELLE CARNES, MFA
Contemporary Figurative Oil Painter, California, USA
EDUCATION
School of the Art Institute of Chicago — MFA, Painting, 2020, Chicago, IL
Colorado Institute of Art — BA, Visual Communications, 1988, Denver, CO
Jeffry Watts Atelier — Figure Painting & Drawing, 2014–2015
Art Students League of Denver — Painting from Life, 2004–2006
Don Sahli / Sergei Bongart Tradition — Russian Impressionist Apprenticeship, 2004–2005
School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Figure Drawing Studies, 1978–1982
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 — Cabaret, Usher Gallery, Petaluma, CA
2022 — Slava Ukraini, Joseph Jewell Winery, Forestville, CA
2017 — Reverence, Horse + Plow Winery, Sebastopol, CA
2017 — Untamed, 369 Main Studio, Sebastopol, CA
2016 — Environments, Hart’s Desire Winery, Healdsburg, CA
2016 — Impact, Elle Lui Gallery, Santa Rosa, CA
2015 — Angels + Rebels, Buddha’s Palm Gallery, Sebastopol, CA
2013 — Wine, Women + Song, Counterculture Art Haus, Sebastopol, CA
2010 — Music Muse, Hayward Music Center, Hayward, CA
2008 — Maison Rouge Gallery, Chicago, IL
2006 — Celebrations, Russian Ark Gallery, Denver, CO
2006 — Out West, Russian Ark Gallery, Denver, CO
2005 — Heart and Soul of Denver (Sold Out Exhibition), Denver Press Room, Denver, CO
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 — The Belonging Project, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
2023–2024 — West County, Bodega Art Gallery, Bodega, CA
2022 — Art for Ukraine, Sausalito Art Festival Foundation, Sausalito, CA
2020–2021 — MFA Exhibition, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
2018 — The Raging Tide, Edwardian Ball, San Francisco, CA
2017–2018 — San Francisco Women Artists Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2014–2025 — Sonoma County Art Trails Exhibition, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
2009 — Richard Schmid Fine Art Auction, Fort Collins, CO
2007 — Southwest Art Magazine Plein Air Exhibition (Juror’s Pick Award)
2004 — Evergreen Center for the Arts Plein Air Exhibition, Evergreen, CO
PUBLIC ART + SELECT INSTALLATIONS
2022 — The Homestead, Nambiti Game Reserve, South Africa
2020 — Black Lives Matter Mural, City of Petaluma, Petaluma, CA
2017–2020 — SOMO Village Installations, Rohnert Park, CA
2011 — Rites of Passage Installation, Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV
2010 — Metropolis Installation, Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV
CORPORATE + PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver, CO
Red Touch Media, Salt Lake City, UT / London, UK
SOMO Village, Rohnert Park, CA
CRL Associates, Denver, CO
Private collections throughout the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Sweden
AWARDS + HONORS
2009 — Colorado Governor’s Award for Excellence
2008 — National 3CMA Savvy Award
2007 — Southwest Art Magazine Juror’s Pick Award
2001 — Colorado Press Association Award
SELECT PRESS
2023 — Club Random with Bill Maher featuring Gene Simmons
2015 — Late Night with Stephen Colbert — Qdoba installation feature
2012 — Press Democrat Artist Interview
2011 — ArtRockX TV — First Place Live Painting Award
2005 — NBC News Artist Interview
“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
“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 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!“Â
- 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.
"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