About Michelle Fontaine

ABOUT

Currently living in Athens, GA, I have traveled as much as I can to gain experiences in my painting.  After attending colleges in Chicago, Atlanta, and New York, I completed my BFA at the University of Georgia.  I took several opportunities to participate in artist residencies to entrench myself in painting and surround myself with other artists of different mediums. This took me to places like Colorado, New Mexico, Vermont, and Italy to name a few. These experiences were so vital in creating work with intense focus.  In returning to Athens I branched out and began to work in steel fabrication and construction. After working  for an architecture firm for a few years I was convinced by a dear friend to branch out further and take on the endeavor of tattooing.  I find a rich life is gaining as much out of it as you can, to always keep moving and learning, and to keep building as much of yourself as you can.  

Most days of the week you can find me at Happy Ending Tattoo in Athens.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My purpose as a painter is to exercise the paint itself as a language to communicate themes of dualities, anxieties, feeling, and vision. These subjects float around each other in a single space, sometimes as half-formed or hidden thoughts. Each work created serves as an important stepping stone in the journey of self discovery. This creative process is a pathway that helps me understand more about myself, what it means to be a painter in this world, and how to survive in times of apprehension. 

Mid-century motifs and concepts often appear in ways to voice feelings of dissimulation, where the clean and pristine mask underlying darknesses. I am interested in the other side of the human condition, how it is presented, where it goes, and the roles that we as people in a society construct to make it all function (or fail). Through graphic elements such as sign work, fabrics, or patterns I try to include our fixations with material objects, and how we relate to them. I want to showcase how they can become extensions of ourselves- how I am expressed by my painting. 

Keeping authenticity as a painter is critical. The relationship to the paint itself is something I recognize to be honored. I believe it is the key factor in aiding my examination of these ideas and themes that help prevent the narrowing of my self- awareness. Beneath the surface lies a different world, that other side, something that I am looking for that is unknown to me. Painting is the tool that motivates me to continue to search for it. 

CV

Solo Exhibitions:

Carisma Gallery, Buford GA (2006)

McCarter Residence, Chateau Elan (2008)

GG Boutique, Buford GA (2010)

Flatiron, East Atlanta Village (2011)

Creature Comforts Brewery, Athens GA (2014/15)

Murals/Design:

DT Productions Mural, Normaltown. Athens, GA. 2015.

Atomic Vintage Signage, Clayton Street, Athens GA. 2015.

Athens Church Interior Mural/Lettering. Athens GA. 2016-2024

Creature Comforts “Automatic ” Beer Label, 2016.

Group Exhibitions:

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts Annual Gala, Atlanta GA. 2021.

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts Annual Gala, Atlanta GA. 2020.

Georgia Lawyers for the Arts Annual Gala, Atlanta GA. 2019.

Second Self Brewery, “Nakatomi Holiday” 2019.

High Wire Lounge, “Locals Only” 2019.

Albany Museum of Art, “Neighborhood For Painters”, Haley Gallery, Albany, GA 2018

Howell’s, permanent installation. Atlanta, GA. 2017.

The Classic Center, Classic Gallery 1, Athens GA. “Hello Neighbor” 2015/2016 Ba’sik, “Greetings From Vermont” Pop-Up, Brooklyn, NY 2015

Heirloom Café, Athens GA , 2015
The World Famous, Athens GA, 2014
Lamar Dodd Plaza Gallery, “Pspspspsps-zzzzzt!” Athens GA 2014

Mostra Estate 2014, Cortona, Italy 2014
Cortona Reunion, Athens GA 2014
Ciné Artist Presentation, Athens, GA. 2014
BFA University of Georgia,”ULEXITE”, Athens GA, 2014 

RAW Artists at Terminal West En Masse, Atlanta, Aug 2013 RAW Artists Semi-Finals Awards, Atlanta,  2013 

RAW Visual Artist of the Year, city of Atlanta 2013 

The Quiet Life Blog online publication, 2008 

Artist Residencies:

Vermont Studio Center. Johnson, Vermont. 2015.

Elsewhere Studios. Paonia, Colorado. 2016.

Starry Night Residency. Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico. 2016.