Life & Work with Michelle Murakami

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Murakami.

Hi Michelle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.

I have worked as a graphic designer my entire adult life but made my way into the fine art realm in 2018. My interest in art has always been alive, but as it often does, life’s busyness with work and having a family – being a single mom – got in the way of pursuing it in any meaningful way. It wasn’t until I got involved in the Fairview Arts Council that I even considered that I could ignite my love of making art once again.

Since joining I’ve been involved in painting a handful of murals in my hometown of Fairview – some with the Arts Council group and some on my own. I’ve enjoyed creating on a large scale like that. There’s something magical in getting to view art on your daily commute. As a Middle Tennessee native, I look for ways to broaden the reach of art and artists in my local area, and being on the board of the Arts Council has enabled me to do that. I recently retired from graphic design as a career, and have been focusing on my healing journey after my Dad’s death last year. I would never have imagined that it would affect me so intensely being that he was absent for most of my youth and early adulthood.

Having to process through his life’s belongings, I found that I was more like him than I would have ever admitted. Not just in the artistic sense, but in other ways such as his collection of interesting objects – he was a bit of a magpie as my daughter described him. He spent his whole life creating. Leatherwork, woodwork, lapidary, faceting, music, gardening, and painting just to name a few of his hobbies.

Some of these I was aware of, but had no idea how much he filled his life with it. He kept most of it hidden, which is a shame because he was talented. I’ve realized that sharing my art is something I need to do. While I’m no Rembrandt, I think that having a love for creating art is a gift and brings meaning to me, and it takes on another level of significance once shared and loved by others.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love painting the natural world. I find the textures in nature fascinate me the most. I’ve created several fungi paintings focusing on the underside in many cases — the patterns and textures are so visually interesting. While nearly all flora grabs my attention, trees are my big love.

The way the sun or moon filters through the trees when I’m out in nature and how it brings a marvelous glow to the scene is something I’m keen to capture and be able to share with others. I also enjoy painting pet portraits. Making an enduring keepsake for the humans who love these fur babies is an honor.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve never been one to sit still — and that remains a reckoning force for me today, I do have yoga to help bring calm — to be still and silent if only momentarily. ADHD is ever-present and helped to form my creative and resourceful nature, so I’m learning to stop fighting it and use it to my advantage.

I grew up in a creative and artistic family. My mom painted lovely scenes on the walls of our childhood home. My brother is a sign painter and artist. My dad was always creating something.

My other siblings are artistic as well, just something they don’t often practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michemuraart.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michemuraart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michemuraart
• Other: https://www.fairviewartscouncil.org