Biography

Michelle Vandyk has been passionate about light, shadows, colours, and the relationships between living and man-made elements for as long as she can remember. Her mixed-media art reflects her belief that life is layered, textured, connected and meaningful.

Many years ago Michelle received her BFA in photography and graphic design from Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Michigan). After 16 years of teaching Middle and High School Art, she studied at the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute, earning a postgraduate masters (15 month) diploma in art therapy. Blessed to share her passion for many forms of visual art, Michelle’s three-fold art practice includes: creating art, teaching adult/teen workshops, and facilitating visual expression and healing through her new business, Abide Art & Therapy. She commutes to work walking through the garden to her backyard studio.

Michelle resides with her family and her grand-dog, Piper in Chilliwack, BC, Canada.

Her professional memberships include: BC Teacher’s Federation, BC Art Therapy Association, the Federation of Canadian Artists, and CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts).

Michelle exhibits her work regularly in galleries, museums and public spaces.