Life & Work with Michelle Lamb

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Lamb.

Hi Michelle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve wanted to be a visual artist since childhood and never wavered from this path throughout my education or career. My belief in ever-learning has culminated in a profession that is rewarding primarily in terms of self-fulfillment as well as having made me a multi-disciplinary artist. Mixing my mediums allows me the capability to tackle many types of art forms and embrace newer ones that come along.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve not encountered many people who have had a smooth road and that is most likely for the good. Having challenges, making mistakes, and experiencing multiple attempts is key to improving one’s passion. Even sitting with mistakes that are not solvable can be a lesson.

When teaching two disparate disciplines; soft sculpture and found object assemblage, I point out to students that if you’re not willing to make a mistake you won’t learn how to avoid this particular mistake in the future nor gain the know-how in adapting or solving the mistake so it seems purposeful to your piece.

Most importantly, embracing mistakes allows the freedom to not be too careful, to know you’ll gain expertise in the potential “fix” and oftentimes, the joyful happenstance where a mistake becomes the magic a piece needs and you end up purposely utilizing it in the future.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multi-disciplinary artist so it would be difficult to say I specialize, but my current top two are soft-sculpture art and found object assemblage sculptures, both of which are quite opposite of one another. Within my hometown, I am known for having painted a 40′ wide x 7′ high mural for the light rail train station.

In the local gallery fine art scene, I am known for intriguing assemblage sculptures that have an industrial machine like theme. Internationally, I am known for my soft sculptures which reside far and wide, one of which was a mohair bear anthropomorphized as a sea captain who won $15,100 on an eBay auction. My multi-disciplines in my art is probably what sets me apart from others and perhaps my extremely meticulous craftsmanship in whatever type I am doing.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Ever learning matters most. Constant curiosity and willingness to learn new things and learn from mistakes has informed all my art throughout the years. A professor once said to never rest on your success and it was great advice that I pass on to others. I’ve made a point to take classes in things that are well outside my comfort zone and it can be both humbling and informative as well.

I consider teaching, a learning experience as well, in that I often take away tidbits of knowledge from students. Making sure to be inquisitive with my peers and other artists, as well as making sure to share with them, has expanded my expertise in material knowledge.

Contact Info:

• Website: artistmichellelamb.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.e.lamb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.lamb.756/