Michelle Atkinson is an internationally awarded artist and designer creating contemporary artwork based on her own evolving relationship with the environment 

b. 1981 Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she continues to live and practice.

Michelle’s work juxtaposes organic and geometric visuals informed by unconventional processes to create work that evokes a sense of place, shared connection and memory while educating on topics relating to biodiversity and human existence.

Years of investigative refinement of traditional glass techniques as well as exploration in graphic design, metal fabrication, ceramics and painting have moved Michelle into a multidisciplinary fine art practice. She is known for being brazenly experimental with technically complex processes. Thoughtful combination and balance of texture, shape and colour utilizing a range of materials formulate Michelle’s haptic works. The natural world and humankind’s effect on the landscape are foundational to the multiple levels of meaning for those who wish to analyze not only the visual manifestation of the work but also the creation process and often the unique materials utilized.

Atkinson earned a technical design diploma (NMPD’03 with honours) from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Canada with which she has earned international acclaim and over 30 awards. In December of 2023, Atkinson’s first large-scale permanent public art piece was unveiled as the entrance to the newly designed Wild Canada section of the Calgary Zoo.