Healing Threads

Michelle May, Paxton, Massachusetts

Statement:

Rooted in sustained observation of coastal environments under pressure, my work contemplates—reef systems, tidal ecologies and shorelines increasingly reshaped by warming seas and human intervention. Over time I have seen environmental changes that are not theoretical but visible in decay of coral reefs, migration and disappearance of aquatic life. Research of ocean reef studies and marine science inform this attention, as does Blue Mind theory, which explores the cognitive and emotional shifts produced by proximity to water. These frameworks do not become subject matter so much as underlying conditions of ways these systems of water and my attraction to coastal environments converge.

These observations are translated into abstract paintings that move between color fields, accumulation of layers and erosion, clarity and imagination. Reef structures, water and shifting tidal zones become internalized rhythms rather than depicted forms—built through layered marks, repeated gestures, and interruptions that mimic ecological fragility. My process is shaped by long viewing, of watching fractured light, decay and organic systems in real time. In the studio, these experiences surface as visual fields that hold both coherence and instability, mirroring the precarious balance of the environments they originate from. Filled with movement and charged with atmosphere, each move informs the next.

Travel, architectural, music and poetry also inform my visual language, as seen in Gitano. Abandoned structures, eroding facades and rusty layered histories of place enter the work as parallel systems of weathering—human-made environments returning to elemental conditions. These sites extend the ecological inquiry beyond the shoreline, linking natural degradation to culture and history. As a North American traveler, I am fascinated by the long history of European and eastern regions. My artwork does not aim to illustrate environmental loss, but to take note of the tempo—how systems change, persist and reconfigure under the pressures of our world. It is my ongoing study that is magneetic for my attention—what remains visible, what disappears, and what continues to move beneath the surface even as conditions change. The only thing I can do, is tell the story through my art. These coastal areas bring me gifts. I feel like my art is a way to respond in kind.

Bio:

An abstract painter based in Paxton, I am deeply rooted in both Worcester and Falmouth, Massachusetts. My work is shaped by a lifelong connection to water, travel and the emotional impact of place. After studying law and history at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a magnetic path lead me to a career in design and marketing within the stationery industry, which sharpened my knowledge of visual communication, composition and the power of storytelling. That balance between structure and intuition continues to influence the way my art series and professional work evolves — layered, immersive and driven by emotional impact.

An avid traveler, I am continually inspired by historical architecture, regional food culture, and the sensory experience of experiencing unfamiliar environments. Coastal living has become central to my life and practice, particularly through years spent traveling throughout the British Virgin Islands. For over a decade, those islands have profoundly shaped both my personal perspective and artistic direction. Just weeks after our first visit, Hurricane Irma devastated the region, leaving an horrific impression of fragility, loss and environmental urgency. The visible destruction of reefs, shifting shorelines, rising water temperatures and the accelerating impact of global warming continue to inform my work today. Through abstraction, texture and layered movement, my paintings often invite conversations surrounding ocean preservation, environmental change and humanity’s increasingly delicate relationship with water.

Beyond the studio, together with Payal Thiffault, we are the co-founders of Juniper Rag, this contemporary arts platform. Proudly we have become known for connecting artists with collectors, curators and wider audiences through innovative exhibitions and opportunities. We also co-founder of Atelier ID Global, a creative consultancy focused on branding, strategy, and visual storytelling. Across all facets of our work there is a consistent pursuit of community, emotional resonance and meaningful human connection through art and design.