- Oct. 28, 2025, 3:30 pm US/Central
On Display December 12- February 26, 2026
I am a printmaker, painter, and mixed media artist. My work is abstract and is influenced by science. My interest in science, and in particular, black holes and gravitational waves, comes from my desire to understand my son’s work and his fascination with astrophysics. My son, Eric Thrane is a physics professor at Monash University in Australia. He studies gravitational waves and black holes and is a member of LIGO and OzGrav. My imaginary visions reflect my perceptions of the far away galaxies that he studies, and the search for what is beyond what the eye can see.
It fascinates me to think that “space could rip, bend, puff up, crumple and even vanish.” (NYT, Happy Birthday LIGO. Now Drop Dead, Dennis Overbye, September 10,2025) These are terms that I use when I think about my artwork. I found it quite interesting that Mr. Overbye used these words when talking about space and black holes. The mysteries surrounding black holes inspires me to imagine and create my own images.
As an artist I aways think about the use of space. I like to tear, cut, bend and reconfigure and use layers (‘vanish’ as parts are hidden). My artwork starts with an encaustic monotype. My monotypes are created using paint made with beeswax, pigment and a resin. I draw on a specialized heated plate with the paint, manipulate the image with tools and press my paper down for the print. The process is repeated many times to create a finished print. Some of the monotypes are framed, while others are cut up and used for paper sculptures.
My paper sculptures begin by cutting my work into puzzle-like pieces. The puzzle pieces are reconfigured and then “stitched” together with staples to create my shaped wall sculptures. Each finished artwork reflects my thoughts about objects interacting with each other and in space.
I feel that my works tells a story to which the viewer contributes and perhaps reflect on what’s beyond what the eye can see.
https://www.michelethranesart.com/ for more information.