Meet Michelle Sider | Mixed Media Artist & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Sider and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
After becoming a full-time mosaic artist, the most important decision has been to focus my work on personally meaningful and inspirational work exploring my heritage. This decision has led to many creative designs, ideas, and expressions.

Before making this decision, I had been studying the work of others, trying different styles, and focusing on challenging myself technically. I was creating beautiful and technically advanced works that were not as personally gratifying or deeply expressive as my current work.

My recent work explores my heritage, sense of place, and personal experiences. It expresses the struggle to maintain emotional and psychological balance amid difficulties.

In my work, light symbolizes spirituality and hope, while darkness represents fear and pain. The juxtaposition of these two mirrors my struggle with contrasting emotions.

This subject resonates with many people. Viewers have told me that they find solace, hope, and a deep connection with the human condition when they view my recent work

I have the opportunity to grow artistically, emotionally, and spiritually by exploring the spectrum of emotions and the balance I seek through ancestral strength, faith, and the search for beauty and light,

With each piece I create, I take the opportunity to advance my skills and explore personal messages that resonate with me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is a fusion of aesthetics and technical skill, designed to evoke awe and provoke thought. What distinguishes my work is its painterly quality, exquisite details, lack of grout between pieces, vibrant color palette, and textured surfaces that convey a sense of movement and expressive content. My mixed media pieces, often dramatic and ethereal, invite deep emotional responses.
I create work that dazzles the eye using exquisite materials like glass, gold, stone, metals, pottery, and even handmade jewelry. From a distance, they resemble paintings, but upon closer inspection, one can appreciate the intricate spectrum of color and texture created by individual elements. The absence of grout between the pieces of glass and stone requires precision cutting and adds to the liveliness, sense of movement, and three-dimensional quality. A unique feature of my work is how the glass pieces change hues with varying light throughout the day, adding a dynamic dimension.

Light, both literal and metaphorical, is a core element of my work. Physically, I’m fascinated by the interplay of light with different materials, and symbolically, I use light to express a quest for emotional and spiritual illumination amid darkness. The darkness reflects my concerns about historical and contemporary antisemitism, intolerance, and hatred, while the light symbolizes the pursuit of hope, spirituality, and resilience.
Through my art. I aim to tell stories of heritage, belonging, hope, and inspiration. I want to create pieces that dazzle and captivate the viewer’s eye, spark conversations, and encourage viewers to seek light amid life’s shadows.

The journey to becoming a full-time artist has not been without its challenges. Choosing an artistic path can be difficult, particularly because society often undervalues this career choice. Although I am now a full-time artist, my path was far from linear. I began as an artist but then worked as a clinical psychologist and a high school art teacher. It wasn’t until my children left home that I fully embraced my art career.
Throughout all those years, however, I never stopped identifying as an artist. Creating with my hands and bringing ideas to life is an intrinsic part of who I am—it’s something that has always flowed naturally from me. Despite this passion, it took immense determination, perseverance, and unwavering self-belief to make my dream become a reality. The road hasn’t always been easy; I’ve had to learn to rise above rejections and keep moving forward, motivated by my love for creating.

Looking back, the most important qualities on my journey have been perseverance, belief in myself, and reaching out to others that I trust for help.

As an artist, it is important to believe in myself and persevere when times are difficult. Making money may be one goal, but it isn’t my only goal as an artist. I am grateful that I didn’t allow a lack of sales or discouraging circumstances to dissuade me from continuing with my inner vision and creativity. My mantra is: “You can do everything, just not all at the same time”. This mantra has helped me to maintain my identity as an artist even as I worked at non-artistic jobs and when life took unexpected turns.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

I am a mixed media artist exploring themes of identity, and spirituality, celebrating pride of place and the beauty of light. Working in glass, stone and metal, my work evokes emotional responses that connect to the viewer on a deep level. Often described as having an ethereal, reflective, and dramatic quality, my works are characterized by exquisite detail, intriguing texture, bold color, and a sense of movement and flow.

Delving into themes of heritage, sense of place, resilience, and spirituality, I continually search for light amid the darkness. Ultimately, my work is a journey through light and emotion, inviting viewers to experience a rich interplay of color, texture, and reflection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, I’d want to show them all the best spots in the area. Here’s how I’d plan a week-long itinerary for an unforgettable experience:

We’d kick things off with a leisurely stroll along the Detroit Riverwalk, taking in the scenic views. Next, we’d visit either the Detroit Institute of Arts or Pewabic Pottery—both quintessential Detroit experiences. For lunch, we’d head to Bakersfield for some delicious Mexican cuisine right in the heart of the city.

Another highlight would be a visit to the newly renovated Detroit Train Station, an architectural gem. Afterward, we’d grab a bite from local food trucks and enjoy it at picnic tables for a relaxed outdoor experience. After some rest at home, we’d meet up with friends at Detroit Axe for a few rounds of axe throwing, followed by a casual meal. If we were in the mood, we could linger for board games or even belt out some karaoke.

For an upscale evening, we’d start with drinks at Kamper’s Rooftop Bar, soaking in the views of Detroit, and then head over to Royal Oak for sushi and an evening stroll.

A morning spent exploring Belle Isle would be a perfect way to connect with nature, followed by drinks at Detroit Distillery to wind down. Another day, we’d enjoy a tranquil walk through the Cranbrook Gardens, perhaps popping into the Cranbrook Art Museum. That evening, we’d feast on Buddy’s Detroit-style pizza—a must-have while in town.

We’d also take a morning trip to Kensington Metropark for a beautiful walk around the lake. If it were fall, we’d head to a local cider mill for fresh apple cider and cider donuts—a quintessential Michigan experience.

Exploring Detroit’s rich history would include a visit to the Detroit Historical Museum, followed by a stop at the Detroit Public Library to admire its iconic Pewabic Pottery tiles. For lunch, we’d eat at Seva, a fantastic vegetarian spot in the city.

Of course, no visit would be complete without simply hanging out at home, sharing a glass of wine, reminiscing, and enjoying each other’s company.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my husband, Bill. He has been 100% supportive of my art career, encouraging me to take chances and delve deep into my work. He consistently provides valuable suggestions and critiques of my artwork, writing, and presentations. Bill is my shlepper, lugging large works to different locations, and has done whatever he can so I have the time and resources to dedicate myself to my art.

Website: https://michellesider.com

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Image Credits
Art Photo credit: Eric Law