Valsaintes I
Multimedia on board12 W X 12 H X 1.5 DFramedBy Michele YatesMinnesota, USAMultimedia on board12 W X 12 H X 1.5 DFramedBy Michele YatesMinnesota, USAMultimedia on board12 W X 12 H X 1.5 DFramedBy Michele YatesMinnesota, USA
Michele Yartes is a French-born contemporary painter currently based in Minnesota. Her work is rooted in vibrant color and rich texture, often inspired by the natural world, everyday moments of wonder, and emotional connections to her birthplace. Drawing from both her immediate surroundings and distant memories, Michele creates layered, expressive paintings that evoke a sense of time, place, and introspection.
She studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and has been a dedicated participant in the Creative Visionary Program led by Nicholas Wilton of Art2Life for the past four years. Her artistic journey has also been shaped by her years as a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where she developed a deep understanding of art history and how to help viewers form personal, meaningful connections with works of art.
Michele’s creative process begins with intuitive gestures—painting with acrylic on wood panels or canvas—and evolves through a method of layering, scraping, sanding, and glazing. Each painting emerges through a balance of spontaneity and intention, revealing the physical and emotional history embedded in its surface.
Her themes often explore the passage of time and the nostalgia that arises from migration and memory. Michele hopes her work encourages viewers to reflect on their own journeys, find beauty in the everyday, and feel a renewed sense of connection to the shared human experience.