Michele Burns

The driving force of my art is curiosity. Each piece begins with the question “What if?” What if I use these colors, textures, materials, techniques, or objects together? Each work is a surprise package I get to slowly open.
I study art, and in my head I divide the field between decorative art that people want in their homes, which is great, and “arty” art that is innovative, original, and sometimes gallery-worthy. I often fail but generally aim for the elusive territory between the two- attempting to create things pleasing to the eye that people might want to live with, while pushing out boundaries for both everyday and more sophisticated art lovers.
A unique recurring feature of most of my work is the inclusion of photoluminescent strontium aluminate doped with rare earths. I make the pigments myself for maximum luminance. The works are thereby two compositions, one by day and a second, rather magical composition that appears at night. I employ super-bright child-safe minerals that shed light for 10 to 20 hours after exposure to any visible light, and that continue to be “re-excitable” for decades.
I do not have a single style because my relentless curiosity leads me in many directions as I constantly explore new materials,...

John Herron School of Art
Indiana University, Bloomington, Purdue University, West Lafayette Indiana.

My Paintings, sculptures and jewelry have been featured in various galleries in Bloomington, Nashville and Indianapolis.