By Kate Bartlett
Michelle Capizzi is a visual artist and abstract painter with her studio in Great Valley, NY. Originally from Kenmore, she has been connected to the Ellicottville community for over 28 years and has lived in Great Valley for 18. She finds inspiration in texture and layers, and her art reflects her love of colors and shapes, and how they interact.
Michelle’s first inspiration for the arts came from visiting ArtPark in Lewiston, NY. She was exposed to various art forms, including painting, pottery, clay, drawing, dance and theatre. “I absorbed as much as possible from our day trips to ArtPark. It was my first exposure to the arts and I was drawn to it.” She frequented the Albright Knox with her family where she discovered the world of art. “This began my love for colors and shapes and their interaction with each other.”
Michelle obtained her Bachelors of Arts from Fredonia State University in Graphic Design. She worked as an art director and freelance graphic designer after college, but always came back to painting. Painting took the ‘back-burner’ for a while as she focused on family with her husband and 3 sons. “I was always involved in the arts, and I always found time to create; but my focus was on family for many years,” recalls Michelle. “We spent many seasons teaching our sons to ski in Ellicottville, and eventually bought a second home in Great Valley.”
In addition to being involved in her son’s schools and sports, Michelle volunteered at the Albright Knox Art Gallery and served on the board for CEPA (Center for Exploratory & Perpetual Arts) for many years. As her boys grew older and started looking at colleges, Michelle realized it was time for her to rediscover her balance in life. “I remember telling my boys how it was important to have balance in their lives, when I realized I needed to find mine.”
Michelle began painting more and has now transitioned to painting full-time. She currently spends most of her time at her in-home studio in Great Valley where she feels most inspired. Michelle describes her art as abstract expressionism. “All my art tells a story. My works express emotion and convey a mood.” She hopes to help people explore expressionism and better understand this realm of art. “I want my work to be relatable, and I want the viewer to find the conversation in the art.”
Recent commissioned piece in a Buffalo, NY home.
As Michelle is inspired by layers and textures, she frequently paints with found objects rather than paint-brushes. “It’s not uncommon for me to paint with random parts from household objects or things found in a hardware store. I recently used parts of a pool vacuum to create a layered paint style. I’ll frequently be inspired on a walk and find treasures in nature. I love discovering what the objects can create with paint.”
Michelle was recently featured in a solo show at Seneca One called Anything Can Happen. The show highlighted her abstract expressionism painting through several paintings. She also recently sold a piece at Burchfield Penny Art Center’s Art Gala and Auction and was featured in the Tri County Arts show in Olean.
Recently, Michelle has been working on commissioned work and focuses on expressing stories through her painting. Her commission paintings are currently in homes and business across the country. She listens to family stories, then expresses their story though art. “I want to draw the viewer into my art, bring them into the painting and help them appreciate the depth of the painting.”
Throughout the years, Michelle has been inspired by the late abstract painters Joan Mitchell and Lee Krasner, along with influential contemporary artist Cecily Brown. She encourages aspiring artists to create every day, and to tap into their inner artist, exploring their art form. “It’s something I’ve sought to do, and it’s helped me evolve as an artist. Even when I couldn’t devote hours to my art, I was still creating. Whether doodling, drawing, exploring nature or writing, I’ve always tried to create something every day. Now that I have the time, I find my inspiration tank is full from all these pieces, and I better know who I am as an artist.”
When Michelle is not in the studio, she can be found volunteering with Alley Katz, a local beautification group in Ellicottville, or spending time with her family.
For more information on Michelle and her work, visit her website https://michellecapizzi.com/ and follow her on IG @ michelle_capizzi for recent projects and upcoming events.