Artist Michela Martello was born in Grosseto, Italy. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in illustration from Europe Institute of Design, after which she published works in over 30 books, primarily children’s book illustrations. In 1993 she shifted her focus to painting and had her first exhibition in Milano and New York. In 1998 she moved permanently to New York where she started her research as artist painter full time at Arturo di Modica’s studio. In 2006 she was selected by the American Association of University Women in the “Emerging Women Artists Juried Exhibition” held at the New York Design Centre. In 2007 and 2008 she was selected by Jim Kempner fine arts and Ok Harris gallery for the “NYU Small Work” group show at the Washington Square gallery. Her artwork has being collected and commissioned by both public and private clients; Soros collection, Serafina group, CityCinema group, Fulton collection. Michela has collaborated with: Bonelli arte contemporanea, Italy, Tria gallery, Azart gallery, Pen&Brush gallery, NYC, Parlor gallery, NJ, and Rarity gallery in Mikonos Greece. In 2014 she won the selection for the juried exhibition "Understanding Media, the Extension of Human Being” organized by Call for Bushwick, during Bushwick open studios, in Brooklyn, NYC, in the same year she exhibited at Tibet House Museum US, and she took part of ''Transcending Tibet'' NYC curated by Davide Quadrio and Paola Vanzo. In 2015 she has being commissioned a triptique for the permanent collection of Metropoliz MAAM Museum of Rome by curators Giorgio de Finis and Stefania Giazzi, meanwhile, she's being selected by curator Rick Kinsel, director of Vilcek foundation to be part of ''Domesticity Revisited'' at Pen&Brush NYC. In 2015 she takes part of AQUA Miami Art Fair, and in 2016 at Context NYC with Azart gallery, In 2016 she has being selected to be part of Woodenwallsproject a public art program curated by Parlor gallery, with a Mural installation in Asbury Park, NJ. and most recently she's part of ''Overlap: life Tapestries'' curated by Vida Sabbaghi at A.I.R. gallery BK. In 2017 she's having her major solo show at Pen and Brush gallery, NYC.

Statement

My artwork is a reaction to the environment I occupy, with my technique I built up a gesture that always reflects my thought, my emotions, and what dictates them.

I wish to express a certain balance and harmony, but I realize that the process that leads to such an experience usually involves the opposite aspects. The artistic path has so many constructiveness/destructiveness elements, which creates a certain weight, this weight is a treasure that forges a body of creativity.

I work with mixed media on linen, paper, textile, vintage fabric, wood, walls. My pieces include drawings and paintings as well as collage, sewing, and embroidery. Rather than turning my attention to these domestic forms, I choose instead to make them part of a larger illustrative endeavor, one that draws upon familiar folktales and folk art forms, often with a spiritual and decorative dimension that can be translated on larger dimension from canvas to big murals.

I have always being inspired by the technique of frescos from Giotto to the oldest pigmented murals in the Tibetan Monastery, as well as eastern philosophy, graffiti, and western contemporary icons.

To achieve a compelling piece of work is important, although the daily practice is the essence. How to make my artwork by making my artwork. the hours spent in my studio, the old and new tools, the routine, the unpredictable source of inspirations, the detour, everything is crucial to that final touch.

The funny thing is that I am always unaware of this process at least until the end.