Michelle S. Burt
Mixed Media, Painting
Booth Number#: 502
Year Started At Sawdust: 2013
2026 Exhibitor: Summer Festival
Artist Statement
Art is how I process the layers of life—its beauty, its messiness, its transitions, and its truths. I paint to express what can’t always be said, using color, texture, and movement to explore the depths of emotion, the power of femininity, and the joy of becoming.
My work is rooted in the belief that we are all constantly evolving. Whether I’m painting bold abstracts, empowering female forms, or loose, vibrant florals, I aim to capture the essence of freedom, connection, and soul. I’m especially drawn to stories of women, our resilience, vulnerability, and unapologetic complexity and my Women Empowerment and Dancer series are deeply influenced by those narratives.
I use oils and mixed media to create textured surfaces that reflect layers of life and feeling. Each painting is an invitation to pause, to feel, and to remember who you are beneath the noise. My hope is that my art sparks something alive in others reminding them of their own story, strength, and capacity for joy.
Artist Bio
Michelle Burt is a Southern California-based fine artist collected worldwide for her expressive and emotionally layered paintings. Her work celebrates the beauty, movement, and complexity of life, especially through the lens of womanhood. Her collections include bold abstracts, joyful florals, empowering female forms, soulful dancers, and Seascapes. Each piece inviting the viewer into a deeper story of becoming.
Michelle teaches art classes year-round and leads transformational women’s retreats designed to spark creativity, healing, and personal growth. She also creates custom commissions for collectors seeking meaningful, one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect their unique stories and spaces.
She holds a degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and a BFA from California State University Long Beach. This summer at Sawdust, she is highlighting her Women Empowerment series, vibrant floral and dancer collections, and her newest abstract works inspired by light, freedom, and emotional expression.
