Michelle Lee Rigell
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Michelle Lee Rigell is a St. Louis-based contemporary realism artist who works in acrylics and watercolor. Since 2015, Rigell has shown her work in several locations in the Greater St. Louis area, including Angad Arts Hotel, Duane Reed Gallery, and fundraising art events such as Wall Ball for Artscope and Art of PAWS presented by Purina. She has been featured on platforms such as The Jealous Curator, PxP Contemporary, and Carve Out Time For Art, as well as in publications like St. Louis Magazine and AcrylicWorks7 by Artists Magazine. Rigell also volunteers as an instructor and serves as the associate director of Arts As Healing, a nonprofit organization that brings the therapeutic benefits of art to cancer patients and those with chronic illnesses.
Artist Statement
Since 2016, I have been working on a project called the "1000 Crane Project" because of my childhood love for origami. When I wasn't drawing or painting, I was constantly folding origami. Cranes are also a symbol of good fortune, happiness, and longevity in Korean culture. I decided on the title because of the legend that 1000 cranes could grant a person one wish or even eternal happiness.
Cranes have been an apt subject matter in my life because rediscovering my passion for painting began as a way to cope with my miscarriages and difficulties with infertility. After several years of IVF treatment, I now have a beautiful toddler, but becoming a mother has come with its own new challenges. Balancing motherhood, nonprofit work, and studio time while prioritizing my mental health inspired me to create my newest pieces. I am a firm believer that art can provide healing, and I want to help others heal by providing a sense of sentimentality and humor through my art process and experiences.
Contact
https://www.michellerigell.com
michelleflolee@gmail.com
@mabelle_rigell_art
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
Having a big project or at least an end product keeps me motivated. I realize as an artist it's weird to say this, but I've always found it difficult to keep up with a sketchbook or do art just to do art without an end product in mind.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
I got back into art because it was a way for me to heal, so everything I do related to art—whether it's my own art, teaching, or collaborating with other artists—it always goes back to how I can help someone else heal through art.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
Now that I have a toddler, I have no control over my surroundings or most of my day, so having all my supplies and space set up ahead of time before each paint session helps me get right into it and not get discouraged.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
I try to think about the things I've accomplished so far and tell myself that this is just the beginning—that I have more I want to do and can accomplish.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I don't have any big aspirations about impacting the world, but I hope that my experiences will continue to encourage people to not give up and to find healing in whatever art form they choose.
