BIO
Michelle Doll’s paintings capture quiet, private moments hinged on personal connections between herself and her subjects. Her paintings are infused with themes of intimacy and introspection and explore contemporary ideas about family, love, desire and femininity. The subject matter, although not idealized in form, implies idealized moments of intimacy that we all either consciously or unconsciously crave. Born in Canton, Ohio, she received her BFA from Kent State University and her MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 2006. Among her awards and acknowledgements, Michelle received the Prince of Wales / Forbes Foundation Travel Grant in 2006, was granted Artist in Residence at Eden Rock on St. Barth’s (French West Indies) in 2008, received The Bennett Prize Honorable Mention in 2018, and received a fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in 2019. Her paintings have been exhibited in the US and internationally with solo exhibitions at Lyons Wier Gallery in NYC, Pontone Gallery in London, Gallery Ramfjord in Oslo, Blank Space Gallery in NYC and DFN Gallery in NYC.
Doll’s artwork has been the subject of numerous interviews in publications such as Quiet Lunch, ArtSpeak NYC, American Art Collectors Magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, White Hot Magazine, Evolved Magazine, also featured in publications including “The Figure”, by Margaret McCann (a Rizzoli Publication) and “The Figurative Artists Handbook”, by Robert Zeller (Published by Moncelli Studio). She’s been interviewed in podcasts including John Dalton Podcast, The Drop Interviews, The Art Grind Podcast, Mother Artist Podcast and Art Haus Radio with Bo Bartlett. Her work is is also featured in publications including “The Figure”, by Margaret McCann (a Rizzoli Publication) and “The Figurative Artists Handbook”, by Robert Zeller (Published by Moncelli Studio).
She currently lives and works in Hoboken, NJ and is an adjunct professor at the New Jersey City University while also teaching and mentoring artists both in person and online. For more information about Michelle Doll and her work please visit www.MichelleDoll.com or follow her on Instagram @michellelynndoll
Artist Statement
My paintings are rooted in the idea of creating safe, idealized spaces for intimate familial moments—secure inner worlds that resonate with tenderness and trust. Safe spaces are sacred, and in the process of slowly rendering moments of love and deep connection, time seems to slow, and a heightened sense of awareness is awakened. In these moments, the everyday figures and families on the canvas come alive with hope and compassion.
Each touch, glance, and embrace carries meaning in the folds, creases and weight of connecting bodies. These fleeting, intimate moments are captured in their raw beauty, allowing comfort and familiarity to play out across patterned fabrics and intertwined forms. Every brushstroke records not only the physical body but also the unspoken emotional dialogue, tracing the invisible connections between individuals and unraveling brief glimpses of intimacy.
Free from dysfunction, these scenes transcend the ordinary, offering a glimpse into relationships grounded in honesty and trust. Inspired by the classical mastery of artists like Mary Cassatt, Raphael, and Gerard David, this collection explores both the physical and metaphysical energy within each individual and the dynamic power of safe, loving relationships. In these painted worlds, time pauses, allowing us to focus on the fixed moments of joy that remain untouched by memory. Here, we can be fully ourselves—at peace, in love, and at play.