Meet Michelle Andres | Artist & Gallery Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Andres and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
When I’m ready for a period of growth, I will say, “yes” to every reasonable opportunity. When I first started my business I said “yes” to everything! I learned so much about the industry as a whole this way, from gallery installations to marketing. As I grew, it became impossible to fulfill my commitments and keep the business growing and say yes to everything, so I became more judicious about my time and commitments. In times of high productivity and demand, I say “no” to a lot of things, but as my availability opens up, I start saying “yes” again. Naturally, the space fills up and I find myself creating and showing and even finding new ventures – like this year I came upon an offer for a gallery space – it’s amazing! All my yeses have helped me, helped others, helped others help me and helped me help others…it’s a blast!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It’s hard to get away from the world…but that’s exactly where art is supposed to take us! As an artist, I am deeply effected by the world around me. I came from a corporate setting where I focused on behaviour. Initially, my art included poetry and pieces of art that followed the thread of our human heart’s common experiences and our behaviours. As the world changed, this became a very toxic daily diet and I grew unhappy creating, because what you focus on becomes your existence. But, we have choices!

I took the opportunity to change subject and medium when my husband and I moved to a new home. My work became understated and uplifting. I wanted to create joyful paintings that gave the spirit a chance to breathe. My landscapes, rural curiosities and singular dwellings take on a life of their own, giving the viewer an opportunity to stop and escape from the noise of the world. During the pandemic, the singular dwellings I create began resonating with people. I think there’s a sense of peace, loneliness, safety in a singular home standing alone. We’ve all experienced the gamut of these feelings, as well as the isolation of being at home. I hear from collectors that my work makes feel them joyful. That’s so much better than focusing on what makes our world a challenging place! I’m so blessed to be able to do that for them!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, definitely the Phoenix Art Museum! I find the museum a place to feast my eyes and rest my soul. I’d follow the museum with a lunch at the Barrio Cafe on North 16th Street. I love the old Barrio best. It has such wonderful character, ambiance and the food is the BEST!!! We wouldn’t miss the Cosanti Collection of windmills and bowls. They’re so uniquely crafted. We’d have to stop so my friend could take some wonderful gifts back home!

For a daytime excursion we’d visit Sedona. You can spend a whole week just in Sedona exploring galleries, shopping old town, exploring ancient dwellings, hiking trails and the food choices are incredible! Visit Mariposa Restaurant for the best food and views around. Top it off with a trip to the old, haunted mining town of Jerome. So fun!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Allan Davis. Because I said yes to displaying my art in his community gathering place, Milagro, in Carmichael, CA – I now have the experience of running a gallery and supporting and showing the work of other artists. The gallery, Salt & Light, displays uplifting art and lends a sense of joy to the space!

Website: www.michellenadres.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michelleandresart

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michelleandresstudio

Youtube: @MichelleAndresart