Michelle Dunaway Works

Born in 1972, Dunaway exhibited a strong penchant for drawing since the age of 3 and that fascination has continued throughout her life. Attending Art Center College of Design as a young artist to pursue Illustration, her focus soon shifted to the beautiful intricacies of fine art painting. When Dunaway was 24 she visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY for the first time and was captivated by the lush paintings of John Singer Sargent and Cecilia Beaux. The portrayal of people has always been a main focus in her artwork, her paintings often reflecting the subject in an introspective moment.

“I have been fascinated, as far back as I can remember, with the subtlety of the human face and the emotions that can be conveyed in a simple gesture” Dunaway says. “Within just the glance of someone’s eyes, there is a whole story waiting to be seen and translated through the brush onto canvas.”

Michelle’s paintings have been exhibited in numerous shows and galleries nationwide. She has studied with contemporary masters such as Morgan Weistling and Richard Schmid and teaches several times a year across the country.

Dunaway’s artwork has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine, Art of the West, American Artist, American Art Collector, International Artist, and Fine Art Connoisseur as well as two books; Strokes of Genius 2-The Best of Drawing and Sketchbook Confidential 2.

Michelle has received  numerous honors and awards for her paintings, most notably her painting “ Katie and Jenni- The Daughters of Jane Seymour” which was a top finalist and won the prestigious award of exceptional merit at the Portrait Society of America’s International Portrait Competition in 2010.

Dunaway’s work is known for it’s bold brushwork yet sensitive portrayal of the human spirit captured within a moment in time. Her subjects embody a timeless quality yet speak to the everyday emotions that we traverse as human beings.

Michelle Dunaway Artist Statement:

“To me, the extraordinary resides in the everyday moments of life. Those moments when we stop, pay attention and feel gratitude. All of us experience such moments and they transform us for the better. These instances of human life, personal reflection and inspiration are what I love to capture in paint. Painting is my way of saying Amen visually, to say I am in agreement with the beauty and the mystery of this world.”