In 2005 Michelle began exhibiting her paintings, and her award-winning work is now represented in both private and public collections Australia-wide.

Her works explore the relationship we have with our expectations of life, the future, and each other. Faces have closed mouths, and often gaze back at the viewer, engaging them in a conversation about themselves, through their interpretation of the story in the painting.

Michelle’s work is loose, contemporary and figurative, often featuring abstracted backgrounds. She is inspired by rich colours, peeling paint, distressed surfaces and the rich tapestry of society today.

She is interested in the way old paintwork attempts to cover, and update older surfaces. And by the way this often reveals more about the original state of an object or building. She often distresses paintings to indicate that a character has lived and experienced life, and enjoys playing with the fact that a painting as well as being fine art, is actually also just paint on a surface.

In creating art, Michelle is mindful that an original work brings its own personality to the environment. She feels that a work should breathe and occupy a space without overpowering it – revealing itself to the viewer gently but surely. Her works are often layered with unusual colours in ways that are both playful yet investigative – allowing her pieces to add a welcome and stimulating dimension to any space.

Michelle’s work can be found currently at:

• Castleman Gallery (Black Rock)
• 775 Art and Craft (Red Hill)
• and Art Fusion Gallery (Phillip Island)

She also had a solo show at Hudson (East St Kilda) in November 2007.

For more on Michelle Giacobello see www.michellegiacobello.com