Michelle Hold
Michelle Hold is a German-born artist based in Italy who paints vibrant abstract works inspired by emotion and energy. Her canvases are loud and layered, enticing the viewer to look further and further into their depths. We just love the expressive force of Michelle’s canvases, and we’d recommend them for any interior in need of some punch. The artist, who grew up in Austria, had begun to study architecture when she fell into modelling. On her travels, she took various art and textile design classes. She then worked as a textile designer in Milan before later throwing herself full time into painting. Michelle has held solo exhibitions throughout Italy and in London, and she has participated in international art fairs in Miami, Athens, Milan and Berlin. Her works have featured in group exhibitions across the globe. She has been shortlisted for the RiseArt Prize in 2018.
Art is my life and passion. My work is based on capturing the essence of feelings, emotions and the invisible, eternal energy that pervades in the universe, focusing on beauty and it’s scarcity in current time. I am inspired by nature and new science that meets spirituality. Creating from a place of no time , no space no body in my studio in Italy. Like an architect I love to construct the images with multiple layering, but at the same time leaving space for surprise, for something unexpected to happen, where my dance like gestures encounter the vibrations of color. Color is vital to convey my message of harmony and wellbeing and I am interested in the perception of space and emotion through the equilibrated use of color, which I have trained while working in textile design. Currently I am working on paintings for my solo exhibition for 2018 ‘Color is calling’ where I will elaborate the deeper, silent message color brings and the healing influence it has on us. Color isn’t just color, specially in my paintings it shows a state of mind, feelings and emotions. I aim to offer the spectator a view into special moments of time where all is possible and like my creations to enchant, add to wellbeing and open the mind.
www.michellehold.com
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“Reemerge” Acrylics, pigments on canvas 120 cm x 200 cm
This painting talks about the wonder of nature. A big influence for many paintings is my garden, which I call my little ‘Giverny’ . It is full of wild flowers and different colors at every time of the season. After the bareness and soft colors that winter brings , spring is an explosion, very much like Rachmaninov’s 2nd concerto for piano. Nature is reemerging , colors are vibrant, spring starts with yellow daffodils, red tulips, violet iris, orange colored wild orchids. It seems a musical composition, you can hear the trumpets calling: here I am, look at me Like all my paintings made with fine acrylics and pigments I mix myself to achieve the right color hue on professionally stretched canvas, protected by a layer of top quality light resistant varnish, signed on the back, ready to hang, needs no framing and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
“Believe in Magic” Acrylics, pigments on canvas 120 cm x 200 cm
I trust in magic, that’s to say that I am open to change and allow dreams turn into reality. I believe that if you are able to hold back your fears and just enjoy moment after moment, magical things will show up, specially what we call ‘ little things’ like a beautiful sunset, meeting an interesting person or experiencing a beautiful emotion. Listening to the moment fills me with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the world and the way things just seem to happen out of the blue while in reality its a lining up of events that eventually will bring me to where I dream to be. The magic in this painting are symbolized by the red color fields apparently coming out of nowhere. Like all my paintings made with fine acrylics and pigments I mix myself to achieve the right color hue on professionally stretched canvas, protected by a layer of top quality light resistant varnish, signed on the back, ready to hang, needs no framing and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
“Untangling The Chains” Acrylics, pigments on canvas 120 cm x 120 cm This vibrant painting talks about a very strong emotion I have lived through. I have always questioned the idea that we have to do do certain things and show specific behavior in society. In my opinion specially women have been pressed into a role that serves society, have family , take care of them and forget about your own desires and ambitions. Or if you have them do work, carry the workload of both aspects as you should never forget that family is first. My mother still today will say to me: stop being an artist you got to serve your family and be a ‘house wife’ first. Already the word HOUSE wife says it all. In this painting with the help of the vibration of orange and red color hues I show the joy and liberation that arrives the moment you untangle these chains and follow your passions.
“Feeling The Energy� Acrylics, pigments on canvas 120 cm x 150 cm
Everything in the universe is energy, we humans are transmitters of energy and will encounter the same kind of energy we are sending to the outside world. I try to concentrate when I meet new people on their energy asking myself different questions. Do I feel attracted ? Does their energy block me or does it multiply while talking to them . Do new ideas just pop up when i come in contact with their energy. Using red color is important as red is symbolic for life, vital energy like the blood that runs through our veins. Like all my paintings made with fine acrylics and pigments I mix myself to achieve the right color hue on professionally stretched canvas, protected by a layer of top quality light resistant varnish, signed on the back, ready to hang, needs no framing and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
“Enjoy The Moment As It Is” Acrylics, pigments on canvas 60 cm x 60 cm “There is a Life Stream that flows to you, and this is a Stream of clarity, a Stream of wellness, a Stream of abundance and in any moment, you are allowing it or not.” Esther Hicks In this latest series of works for my solo exhibition ‘Turning Inside’ I have been concentrating on my inner voice. I would describe this series of paintings creations from a place of no time, no space no body, a place from where I gather strength, definitely a place of freedom and peace. There is still very much construction in the composition through applying multiple layering, but at the same time my desire to convey a sense of freedom, almost floating in the universe, through applying immense free gestures, while leaving space for surprise, for unexpected things to happen. Simultaneously as I painted, I could feel a force within me wanting to catch the eye of the viewer and carry him along with me to a place of wellbeing, relaxation and mind-opening views. Colour has always been vital to convey my message of harmony and beauty. The paintings are loaded with my favorite blues which bring you immediately into a state of ‘chilling out’ but then too, there are also many tones of magenta which, at the moment is the color that gives me most joy and cuddles and embraces my soul.
“Embrace The Opportunity” Acrylics, pigments on canvas 150 cm x 150 cm For many of us ‘Change’ comes unexpected even though change is the only thing we can be sure will happen. Change brings challenges and new ideas and perceptions will follow. I believe that if we are able to learn not to oppose change but to welcome the inevitable life will be much easier and enjoyable . Color is always important in my paintings as it brings a secret message . Using white color hues shows an opening for new ideas, leaves space for different developments. White is a statement for freshness and new beginnings like a white page in a book. Like all my paintings made with fine acrylics and pigments I mix myself to achieve the right color hue on professionally stretched canvas, protected by a layer of top quality light resistant varnish, signed on the back, ready to hang, needs no framing and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
“Searching For Lost Knowledge” Acrylics, pigments, paper on canvas 60 cm x 60 cm
Very often I have the feeling that some really important knowledge has been lost from our human past. We are sort of going around without purpose and forgot the reason why we came to this world in the first place. But looking at new scientific research I am confident that we will be able to make the connections very soon. This mixed media painting was made for the exhibition ‘At this Point of Time’ shown at the Scottish Arts Club. Like all my paintings made with fine acrylics and pigments I mix myself to achieve the right color hue on professionally stretched canvas, protected by a layer of top quality light resistant varnish, signed on the back, ready to hang, needs no framing and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
“Change� Acrylics, pigments on canvas 120 cm x 100 cm
Yes change is inevitable, change opens new doors, change is part of our life. For me change has bright colors , new colors, primary colors, because it is the beginning of a joyful path to the happiness we all desire. The white color stands for all the new adventures opening up. Like all my paintings made with fine acrylics and pigments I mix myself to achieve the right color hue on professionally stretched canvas, protected by a layer of top quality light resistant varnish, signed on the back, ready to hang, needs no framing and comes with a certificate of authenticity.