Michelle Iglesias - contemporary artist and art instructor
Artist Statement
As an active member of the National Association of Women Artists, Oil Painters of America, American Artists Professional League and the Berkshire Art Association, I am a self-taught artist who first took to painting for its therapeutic values after being diagnosed with cancer. My passion and perseverance have led me to become a nationally recognized award-winning artist, art instructor, and successful business owner of Berkshire Paint and Sip My recent work has been inspired by the art classes and workshops that I've been instructing. My students have a thirst for learning basic painting techniques, as well as, exploring many different subject matters and painting styles that I guide them through. In the process of my lessons I find solace in creating my own pieces that encapsulate the lessons I impart on my students. I am ever conveying the importance of using your personal life with its poignant moments, it’s effervescent people, and its vision of grandeur, to produce artwork that is meaningful, of the highest quality, and will grab the viewers interest and attention.
My work continues to be influenced by my interest in family connections, nature, traveling and the exotic lure of successfully executing a challenging painting technique. These works consist of the tumultuous dimensions that nature offers, portraits with personalities, and engaging landscape compositions. My paintings invite viewer involvement and have been described as insightful, symbolic, and clarifying.
Biography
Born in 1972 in Blandford, MA, USA, currently residing in Dalton, MA, USA, Michelle Iglesias entered into the art scene in 2002 when she opened “Piece of My Art Gallery and Frame Shop” in Westfield, MA. Her strong business skills, love for art, and custom framing background gave her the confidence to start her art career. Two years after opening the gallery she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31 which led her to pick up her own paint brush for the first time, at which point she discovered the therapeutic value of creating art and continued on this path. Since then she has been showing her work regularly in group and solo exhibitions and her work is included in a variety of private collections. Currently she is an Art Instructor and Owner of Berkshire Paint and Sip, Pittsfield, MA.
Related Professional Experience
2012-Present Berkshire Paint and Sip, Owner and Art Instructor
2012-Present Ongoing instructor for beginner to advanced acrylic and oil workshops throughout MA, NY, CT
2015 “Advanced Painting Pet Portraits with Acrylics”, Art Instructor, Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, CT
2015 “Still Life Painting with Acrylics”, Art Instructor, Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, CT
2015 “Landscape Painting with Acrylics”, Art Instructor, Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, CT
2004-2008 Piece of My Art Gallery and Framing – Owner, Artist, Framer
2004-2008 Westfield Arts on the Green (arts festival for local artisans), Co-founder and Organizer
Education - primarily self taught
2014 “Oil painting Animals”, webcast, Nolan Clark
2013 Still-life workshop, Art New England at Bennington College, Bennington, VT
2011 Master Class in Painting Composition, The National Academy School, New York, NY
2007 Landscape Workshop, Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, MA, Marjorie Portnow
Exhibitions
2013 to 2020 - solo exhibition in M. Iglesias Art Gallery - Pittsfield, MA
2019 Blue Art Show for Autism Awareness - Downtown Pittsfield Inc Dunham Mall, MA - group exhibit
2018 12x12 Flash Art Exhibit - DM Hunt Library, Falls Village, CT - group exhibit
2018 National Association of Women Artists - Rubin Museum and NAWA Gallery - group exhibit
2018 American Artist Professional League, Salmagundi Club - group juried
2018 Melbourne Gallery, Pittsfield, MA - solo exhibit
2018 Forty Shades of Green - Leichtenstein Galler, Pittsfield, MA - group juried
2018 Forced Perspective - DM Hunt Library, Falls Village, CT - solo exhibit
2018 New Art in an Old Building - Model Farm, Dalton, MA - group juried
2017 12x12 Flash Art Exhibit - DM Hunt Library, Falls Village, CT - group exhibit
2015 Mass Mutual Convention Center, Springfield, MA - "A Walk Through Western MA", group juried
2014 Liechtenstein Gallery, Pittsfield, MA – “Pop-Up Art Show”, group juried
2002-2014 Piece of My Art Gallery, Westfield, MA – more than 20 solo and group exhibits
2013 Canal Gallery, Holyoke, MA – “Views of Holyoke”, juried group
2012 Easthampton City Arts Gallery, Easthampton, MA – “Hidden/Private Side of Artists”, group juried
2010 Grubbs Gallery, Williston Northampton School, Easthampton, MA – “Still Life’s & Portraits”, group
2008 Woronoco Savings Bank, Westfield, MA – lobby exhibit, solo
2006 L’Uva Restaurant, Main St, Springfield, MA – “Abstract Landscape Embrace”, solo
2008 Tea Pot Art Gallery, Westifeld, MA – “Imagination”, solo
2006 Atkins Farms, Hadley, MA – “European Adventure”, solo
2005 Black Dog Art Gallery, Westfield, MA – “Pioneer Valley Landscapes” – group juried
Awards and Honors
2018 Artavita 29th International Online Art Contest - Finalist - Certificate of Excellence
2017 F+W Media, Inc and North Light Books - contest winner - AcrylicWorks 5: Bold Values
2017 Artists Magazine Annual Competition - Finalist in Animal Category
2017 Circle Quarterly Magazine Contest - Finalist
2017 Artist's Magazine 34th Annual Art Competition - Finalist in Animal/Wildlife category
2011 “Breast Cancer Awareness” Art Contest, Fine Art America - 3rd place
2011 “Animals of the Wild” Art Contest, Fine Art America – 1st place
2011 “Most Emotional Cancer Painting” Art Contest, Fine Art America – 1st and 3rd place
2011 “A Tribute To” Art Contest, Fine Art America – 3rd place
2006 Blandford Fair Annual Art Show, Blandford, MA - Fine Art Photography Award
2004 Westfield Arts on the Green, Westfield, MA - Best in Show, Acrylic Painting
Publications as Author
2009 “The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Daily Quote Book”, Co-Author, First Edition, pages 162, Lulu Press
2009 “Feeling Pink”, Co-Author, collection of quotes, paperback, 169 pages, Lulu Press
2008 “Please Take My Kids”, Co-Author and Cover Illustration, paperback, 114 pages, Lulu Press
2008 “Oh Baby, I’m Having a Baby!”, Co-Author and Cover Illustration, paperback, 143 pages, Lulu Press
2007 “Still Beautiful”, Co-Author and Photographer, collection of black and white photographs of breast cancer survivors, their scars, and their stories or strength, hardcover, 53 pages, Lulu Press
Bibliography
2018 "AcrylicWorks 5 " book contributor, published by North Light Shop, product of F & W Media
2014 “Pop Up Art”, Discover Pittsfield, http://www.discoverpittsfield.com/popupart
2012 World Wide Art Books – listed as International Contemporary Master
2011 “A Pulse on the Art Beat”, Arthash, Artist Interview, http://arthash.com/2011/08/artist-interview-michelle-iglesias.html
2007 Arts International Listing – accepted artist
2004 “Westfield Arts on the Green to Feature Works of Local Artisans”, The Reminder, Lori O’Brien,
Professional Affiliations and Website Resources
2018 – Present, Member – National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society
2018 – Present, Member – National Association of Women Artists
2017 – Present, Member – Oil Painters of America
2017 – Present, Member – American Artist Professional League
2017 – Present, Member – Allied Artist of America
2014 – Present, Member – Berkshire Art Association, Pittsfield, MA
2011 – Present, Member – Artavita, www.artavita.com
2011 – Present, Member – iFreelance.com
2010 – Present, Member – Artist Daily, www.artistdaily.com
2009 – Present, Member – Fine Art America, www.fineartamerica.com
2009 – Present, Member – Absolute Arts, www.absolutearts.com
2005 – Present, Personal website – Art by M. Iglesias, www.miglesiasart.com
2003 – 2005 Co-Developer and Member - Westfield on Weekends