Michelle S. Fillmore
ARTIST BIO
Michelle Sweeney-Fillmore is a photorealistic painter based in the Bay Area. She grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated with a BA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2015.
Fillmore's paintings are autobiographical metaphors that explore the intersection of the external and the internal worlds, as well as the personal struggles that are often shaped by larger societal forces. By delving into the complexities of mental health, she aims to shed light on its stigmas, and the isolation it often brings. Fillmore uses a meticulously controlled photorealistic style to open up a dialogue about the internal world and the emotional turbulence that often accompanies it. This dissonance reflects the tension between outward appearances and the chaotic, often surreal nature of the emotional experience. The work often takes on a dreamlike quality, underscoring the idea that the mind and society are fluid, layered, and ever-changing. Each painting is a celebration of a person’s ability to liberate themselves from their own prison, as well as the ability to change and transform. I paint themes of transformation to encourage people that change, both on a personal and societal level, is possible.
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Michelle S. Fillmore exhibits nationally, currently being represented by Edward Montgomery Fine Art in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, SHOH Gallery in Berkeley, California, Artspace Warehouse in Los Angeles, California, and Woodman/Shimko Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Solo Exhibitions:
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"Breaking Open: New Paintings by Michelle E. Fillmore," SHOH Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2022
"Untethered: New Paintings by Michelle E. Fillmore," SHOH Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2020
​"Halloween Opening Reception Featuring: Michelle E. Fillmore," Adele Gilani Art Gallery, Sausalito, CA, 2019
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Group Exhibitions:
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"Making Art in a Changing World", Belvedere Tiburon Library Art Gallery, Tiburon, CA, 2024
"Ode to Everyday Memories", Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA, 2024
"The de Young Open 2023", de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA, 2023
"LOVE," SHOH Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2023
"Renewal," Belvedere Tiburon Library Art Gallery, Tiburon, CA, 2022
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"SF Bay Area Artists for Ukraine," SHOH Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2022
"SHIFT," Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, Lafayette, CA, 2021
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"The de Young Open," de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA, 2020
"Group Show," Adele Gilani Art Gallery, Sausalito, CA, 2020
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"Response," Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA, 2020
"Untethered," Adele Gilani Art Gallery, Sausalito, CA, 2020
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"The Art of Quarantine," SHOH Gallery, Berkeley CA, 2020
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"The Summer Hang," SHOH Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2019
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"New Currencies," Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery at the Bank, Lafayette, CA, 2019
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"For the Love of Art," Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, Lafayette, CA, 2019
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"3rd Annual Small Things," Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery, Lafayette, CA, 2018
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"Extended Play: Vinyl Classics as Works of Art," Art Attack SF, San Francisco, CA, 2017
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Publications:
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"Upcoming Show Preview / SHOH Gallery - Breaking Open," American Art Collector, March 2022 issue
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"The Art Lover’s Guide to Collecting Fine Art: California," American Art Collector, February 2020 issue
"7th Annual Poetry Edition," The Berkeley Times, Aug. 27, 2020