Biography
Michelle Hinebrook is a queer, female-identifying artist, mother, and painter based in New York City. Her work explores the intersections of personal narrative, psychoanalysis, mythology, and esoteric thought, blending figuration and abstraction to address themes of transcendence, transformation, and healing. Hinebrook’s creative practice is deeply rooted in divination and alternative spiritual traditions. Her process begins with manipulating layers of poured transparent paint, allowing stains and patterns to emerge organically as gateways to the subconscious mind. These forms reveal unseen imagery and spiritual visions, making painting a meditative act and transformative tool for healing and self-realization. Hinebrook’s vibrant oil paintings serve as abstract representations of spiritual and emotional experiences, exploring cosmic consciousness, magic, nature, and spiritual transcendence. With over 25 years of artistic experience, she has cultivated expertise across painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, design, glass, color theory, and digital art. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design from the College for Creative Studies.
Her work has been featured in 18 solo exhibitions and over 50 group exhibitions globally and is included in several prestigious public and corporate collections. Notable exhibitions include shows at 101 Exhibit Gallery (FL), Hallway Gallery (WA), David Klein Gallery (MI), Foley Gallery (NYC), Helene Nyborg Contemporary (Denmark), FORMah Gallery (NYC), McKenzie Fine Art (NYC), Islip Art Museum (NY), Pratt Manhattan Gallery (NYC), Cranbrook Art Museum (MI), Museum of New Art (MI), and Marlborough Gallery (NYC). Hinebrook is currently a resident artist at XO Projects in Brooklyn, where she continues to push the boundaries of her mediums. Known for her exploration of mystical, metaphysical, and natural themes, Hinebrook’s work seamlessly blends abstraction and representation. Her mastery of vibrant color and dynamic composition creates transcendent, dreamlike experiences that invite viewers into a world of emotional and spiritual depth. In addition to her studio practice, she has contributed to the art world as a curator, visiting artist, critic, and professor at institutions internationally. Including the College Art Association, Parsons School of Design, Western Carolina University, College for Creative Studies, Pratt Institute, University of Michigan, BGS University, Urban Glass, Snowfarm, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Artist Space, Parsons, Western Carolina University, Nurture Art, Snowfarm, The Center for New England Crafts, Studio in a School, PS20, Marquis Studios, Young Audiences New York, Berkley Carroll School, Pratt Institute, and Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Artist Statement
My work is a meditation on the vibrational energy of the human body and its connection to the infinite. Through painting, I delve into the physical, ethereal, and cosmic dimensions of existence, seeking to dissolve the boundaries between the self and the universe. To me, painting is a portal—a space where the tangible and intangible merge, and where color and form become tools to visualize the human body’s energy as a dynamic, ever-shifting field.
Color is both a spiritual force and a visual language in my work, serving to express vibration, energy, and the unseen. I use luminous hues to evoke the energies that flow through and around the body, reflecting life’s pulsations and the rhythmic connection between the inner self and the universe. Through color symbolism, I explore internal emotional states, the radiant light of the energetic body, and our profound connection to the cosmos. By visualizing the unseen—where color, spirit, and energy intersect—I aim to awaken heightened states of awareness, inviting viewers to connect with the infinite and the mystical dimensions of reality.
The abstract and representational forms in my paintings arise from the dynamic interplay between the physical and spiritual. I view the human body not as a fixed form but as a constantly evolving conduit of energy. The figures, symbols, and elements within my work convey the flow and movement between earthly and cosmic forces, grounding the viewer in the present while inviting a sense of transcendence. My work explores the spiritual nature of divine embodiment, portraying the human form as a fleeting vessel for something eternal and infinite.
Mysticism, transformation, and transcendence are central themes in my work. I draw inspiration from esoteric knowledge, alternative spiritualities, mythological archetypes, and Eastern philosophies. My exploration of the feminine divine celebrates women’s archetypal power, strength, autonomy, and sexuality, portraying figures that embody these timeless qualities. These themes are deeply personal yet profoundly universal, reflecting my identity as a queer, female-identifying single mother while connecting to broader ideas of collective consciousness and the divine..
For me, painting is a conceptual and spiritual practice— a visual meditation and a method of personal transformation.
My imagery integrates the intelligence of the mind, the depth of emotion, and the wisdom of the body, channeling energy into visual form. My brush becomes a tool for introspection and expression, revealing how perception entwines memory, imagination, and outward vision. Through this process, I explore the interconnectedness of human experience with nature, spirit, and the cosmos.
Through these works, I invite viewers to step into the visual field, to project their awareness beyond the visible. In order to feel the vibrational essence of life, and to connect with the eternal flow of energy that binds us to the mysteries of the universe and the sublime rhythms of the cosmos.
I see my paintings as portals—windows into unseen dimensions of reality, where the visible and invisible, physical and spiritual, continuously interact.
Art, for me, is transformative—a way to connect to the vibrational essence of life and the mysteries of the universe. My aim is to create work that allows viewers to reflect on their place in the greater web of existence and feel connected to the eternal flow of energy that surrounds us all.