Biography

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I’m Michelle Rotert, a Chicago-based artist, carving my niche in the

art world with a style that pulls together color, nature and personal experience. Hailing from Clinton, Missouri, my journey as an artist began at the University of Central Missouri, where I pursued

a degree in commercial art. Before settling into fine art, I spent years in Kansas City, Missouri working as a designer and design director in publishing. For me, moving into painting wasn't a career change; it was a profound shift in perspective, finding a vital sense of purpose and rediscovering how art requires time and persistence. I choose to work with acrylic paint because it is versatile, water-soluble and fast-drying allowing for a quicker completion of a painting. My work documents the nuances of my journey from my Midwest roots, to the vibrant energy of city life in Chicago and the quiet contemplation of places I’ve traveled, like the southwest of France. It's a testament to my commitment to authenticity and the pursuit of meaningful expression. At the heart of my subject matter is the delicate balance between the beauty of nature and the feeling of melancholy—the acute awareness that life and nature are transient. When the color of a flower or a sunset triggers that reflective moment, I strive to create a gentle harmony that resonates deeply. Ultimately, I simply want my work to be an invitation to the emotions conveyed with color on canvas. Whether it's from the emerald greens of Lake Michigan or the quiet contemplative moment like the one in my piece 'Rowing', I’m sharing my ongoing narrative and inviting viewers to not just observe, but to immense themselves in the stories I paint—a journey through color, nature, the complexity of life and the continuous pursuit of balance.

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