SHIYUART

Design / Digital, Drawing, Multidisciplinary, Multidisciplinary Art, Multimedia, Painting, Paper / Book / Illustration, Public Art, Visual / Media

I investigate stories, new and inherited, that we weave to build realities of self, community, and culture. My art often highlights women whose voices and visions for society are underrepresented, with references ranging from archival photographs and documents to contemporary media. By layering washes of vibrant color and bold calligraphic strokes, I strive for an intimate immediacy that both invites and confronts the observer, whether in works on paper, canvas, or walls.

About the Artist

Michelle Chen (Shiyuart) is a Taiwanese-American muralist, painter, and calligrapher based in Baltimore, MD. Michelle began studying traditional Chinese calligraphy at a young age, and the symbolism, movement, and harmony of this art form are foundational to her practice. In 2013, she took classes in graffiti and street art with Hip-Hop non-profit Words, Beats & Life, and began training with muralists, assisting on over 30 public art projects over the years. Independently, and in collaboration with community organizations, Michelle has created socially-engaged art in the DC metropolitan region and internationally. Michelle received a B.S. in Foreign Service, focused on arts, literature, and social change in Southwest Asia and North Africa, from Georgetown University in 2016.

SHIYUART website Portfolio