circlegal circlegal

Michelle Kurtz is an abstract expressionist with twists and turns to her work. Currently residing in Salt Lake City Utah, since last may, she has lived and worked artistically in Chicago and throughout Utah. She creates artwork not only to display technicalities, form, line etc.; (actually she is not really concerned with the above, they are just a byproduct) but to solicit an emotional response from outside the art world as well as the inside. She thrives on making an impact on society.
Her current work stems from a particular “ah ha” moment. Before arriving at “that” moment she began with extreme charcoal/pencil realism. She became agitated and bored with it. Needing something that would stretch her creative self she began turning small quick sketches into LARGE pieces of abstract expressionism. She began using house paint for the quantity and low price (and now loves it!) and still uses it as her primary medium. After going with this style and creating a large body of work, the longing to push creativity was still strong. Then it happened! ….the magic statement, thrown at her by friends, family and strangers…. “I can’t even draw stick figures.” Gave her the “ah ha” moment! The ultimate test of creativity; how creative could and can she get with stick figures! Michelle loves this challenge but equally as much as the “play” it has on society…..i.e. anyone can do those….. Along with continuing to develop her own body of work she is currently working with a band to create album covers and promotional artwork. She is also doing an art piece on a downtown billboard. In this work she continues to push her idea of “The ultimate stick figure!”
Michelle earned a B.F.A with a teaching credential from Mesa State College in 2002. She is going to begin the M.F.A program at the University of Utah this fall where she received a scholarship. While attending Mesa State College she had three pieces of artwork accepted to the Mesa State literary review. She has participated in solo and group shows in St. George Utah and Chicago. While in Chicago she worked as a live painting artist at live music festivals. She has also been commissioned to do work for personal collections. Her artwork is being represented by IAO projects in Salt Lake City Utah.