Michele Tragakiss
Southbury, CT, United States
About Michele Tragakiss
I am an American abstract/expressionist living on the east coast. After working many years in graphic design, I left work to raise my two sons. Now I'm returning to my roots as a fine artist.
I received my BFA from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and studied graphic design for an additional year at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.
My paintings attempt to bridge the gap between my dream world and reality.
Pulling from this otherworldly place and using multiple layers of paint and glaze, I hope to bring forth a personal story—a visual stream of (sub)consciousness. Most often my paintings begin with only a color scheme in mind. At the start of my work I spread paint in an exhilarating period of complete freedom, energy and expression. Moving paint around the canvas, I’m guided only by my instincts - one color influences another, one shape dictates the next. After this initial development the real work begins—the work of tearing down and rebuilding. There is always struggle before the resolution but it is in the act of painting that a narrative emerges and perhaps even some meaning from this mysterious place.
My work has been exhibited in many galleries, publications and acquired in private collections through out the United States and internationally.
twitter.com/matraggi
website: www.micheletragakiss.com
https://www.instagram.com/matraggi
Education:
BFA – Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Graphic Design
Pennsylvania State University
Events:
BWAC Wide Open 9 National Juried Art Show - Brooklyn, NY. (upcoming)
Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts 107th Juried Exhibition hosted by Mystic Museum of Art - Mystic, CT. (upcoming)
Mattatuck Museum - Mix Mater Juried Exhibition Waterbury, CT. 2018
Firehouse Art Gallery - Visual Music Juried Abstract Exhibit - Milford, CT. 2018 First Place and Honorable Mention
West Hartford Art League Members Juried Exhibit - West Hartford, CT 2017
Mending Art Exhibit - Hartford ArtSpace - Hartford, CT. 2017
Real.W3iRd. - Southington Community Cultural Arts - Southington, CT. 2017
BWAC - Wide Open 8 National Juried Art Show - Brooklyn, NY 2017
Saatchi Art - featured in the "Inspired by Cy Twombly" collection - 2017
Hartford ArtSpace Gallery - 20th Anniversary Juried group exhibition - Hartford, CT 2017
SoCCA - Juried Art competition. Southington, CT. 2017
Oxford Arts and Cultural Commission - Juried Exhibit 2016 - Oxford, CT
Paris in Plantsville "FIN-End of an Era" group exhibit - Plantsville, Connecticut 2016
Paris in Plantsville - 6th Annual Juried Exhibit - Plantsville, CT. - 2016
ABEX Hartford ArtSpace Juried exhibit - Hartford, CT. - 2015
Artist of the Day - Saatchi Art 8/2/2015
8th Annual Berkshire Salon - North Adams, MA . 2015
OCAC Juried exhibition - Gallery Art Showcase - Oxford, CT. 2015
Paris in Plantsville 5th Annual Juried Exhibition - Plantsville, CT. Juror's Award - 2015
MAC650 Gallery - 2D Winter Juried Exhibit - Middletown, CT. - 2014
Paris in Plantsville, “Life and Death” Visual Interpretation of the Human Experience, Plantsville, CT. 2014
Saatchi Art - “New this Week" Nov. 2014
Short list - Moxy Milan Blank Canvas competition sponsored by Talent House - Milan, Italy - 2014
Castle Fitzjohns 12×12 – New York, New York - 2014
MAC650 Gallery, Juried exhibit - Middletown, CT. - 2014
Oxford Arts and Cultural Center Juried exhibit – Oxford, CT. Best in Show 2014
Paris In Plantsville Juried exhibit – Plantsville, CT. – Honorable Mention - 2014
David Hunt Gallery - Falls Village, CT. - 2013
Online Publications:
Light Space and Time's online International Juried, "8 Artist Showcase" 2017
Light Space and Time's online International Juried, "Abstracts Competition" - Special Merit Award and Special Recognition Award (two pieces) 2017
Light Space and Time's online International Juried, "City Scape" Competition - Special Merit Award and Special Recognition Award (two pieces) 2017
Featured artist at ArtPulp.net - 2016
Niji Magazine.com Featured artist of the week - 2016
Light Space & Time's online International Juried, "All Collections" - Special Merit Award 2016
Featured artist @channelingart 2016.
Niji Magazine.com - Featured artist of the week 2016
LisaSalerno.com Art Blog - Featured artist of the week 2016
Light Space & Time online International Juried, "Abstracts" Collection - Special Merit Award 2016
PROTEUS MAG - Artist of the day 2015
Print:
Studio Visit Magazine Summer Edition #33 2016
Three Person Show:
Laurie Klein Gallery, Brookfield, CT. 1994
Special Projects:
Fashion button designs – Ralph Lauren Sports Apparel - 1985
Exhibitions:
Solo Exhibitions:
Oxford Art's and Cultural Center, Oxford, CT.
Gallery at ShutterSpeed, Middlebury, CT.
Cachion Gallery/Southbury Public Library - Southbury, CT. - 2016
Gallery 13 - Danbury, CT. - 1994
Membership:
New Britain Museum of American Art
Circle Foundation for the Arts, Lyon, France.
West Hartford Art League, Hartford, CT.
Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT.
