I was born and raised in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota, and grew up with a view of the State Capital and St. Paul Cathedral from my backyard. My parents made sure I was exposed to the various arts Minnesota has to offer and I have always loved the Minneapolis Institute of Art and The Walker. I also enjoy going to our local theatres and music venues. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the College of Visual Arts in May of 1997. Since then, I had been working from my studio in Lowertown St. Paul.   About 8 years ago, I moved my studio into my home at Sidetracked Ranch.    I have taught Art classes for various Community Education and YMCA programs for over 30 years, as well as having served as a member of the Arts Council of North St. Paul. I live near Taylors Falls, in a home that I  share with my husband, daughter, our 2 dogs, 1 goat, 2 horses, 1 mini horse, 1 bunny and    9 chickens round out our little ranch.... (they provide us with quite a bit of entertainment and the chickens also provide us with eggs!) My family, friends and community encourages, inspires and teaches me new lessons daily. They drive me to be who I am. My surroundings have been very inspiring- it is a wonderful place to be.

Art Fairs: 2018, 2021 Balsam Lake Freedom Festival, Balsam Lake WI 2018 Karl Oscar Days, Lindstrom MN  2018, 2019, 2021 Ren in the Glen, St.Croix County WI 2018, 2019 2021 MN Renaissance Festival, Shakopee MN (2 weekends)

Past Exhibitions: 2014- 2018 ISD 2144 Community Ed Spring and Fall Art shows 2013 Spring Art Crawl  2012 Fall Art Crawl  2012 Spring art Crawl  2011 Old Time Christmas -Shafer Creamery,  Shafer, MN 2011 Fall St. Paul art Crawl, St. Paul, MN  2011 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl, St. Paul MN 2010 St. Paul Fall Art Crawl, St. Paul MN 2010 CVA Alumni Show Best Foot Forward, St. Paul MN 2010 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl 2010 Foot in the Door 4 at MIA, Minneapolis,MN 2009 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl 2009 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl 2008 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl  2008 St. John's Hospital (August), Maplewood MN 2008 CVA Alumni Exhibition (June), St. Paul MN 2008 Spring Art-A Whirl , NE Mpls MN 2008 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl 2007 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl 2007 "Small Wonder" CVA Alumni Show, St. Paul MN 2007 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl 2006 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl 2006 JAX Group Artists Show, NSP City Hall, North St. Paul, MN 2006 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl, St. Paul MN 2005 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl, St. Paul, MN 2005 CVA Juried Biennial Alumni Exhibit, St. Paul,MN 2005 Annual North St. Paul Art Exhibition @ City Hall, N. St. Paul, MN 2005 St. Paul Mayor's Office, St. Paul, MN 2005 "Art on the Street", North St. Paul, MN 2005 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl, St. Paul MN 2005 Metropolitan Council Offices, St. Paul MN 2005 JAX #1 Group Show,4th St. Theatre, St. Paul MN 2004 The 11th Hour; St. Paul, MN 2004 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl; St. Paul, MN 2004 11th Annual Art Exhibit(@ City Hall); N.St. Paul, MN 2004 "Salon 500" Hopkins Center for the Arts; Hopkins MN 2004 Hot Summer Jazz Festival/ Visual Jazz; St. Paul,MN 2004 Spring St. Paul Art Crawl; St. Paul, MN 2003 Fall St. Paul Art Crawl; St. Paul, MN 2000 "Flesh" CVA Gallery; St. Paul, MN Recent Commissions:  2021 Fairy Haven sign for Tyykilla Family  2020 Snow people for Agre and Wentz Families 2020 Winter themed family portraits for Vargo and Peterson Families  2019 Seasonal Trees for their Jewelry Shop At MN Ren Fest, Jury Family, North Branch MN 2017 Masquers Theatre Co., Set Paintngs for "The Happy Elf", Forest Lake, MN  2008 Greene Family Portrait, Lindstrom,  MN 2008  NSP Sno Frolics Button, North St. Paul, MN 2007 Jewelry Sets for Mrs. Simmons, Shafer,MN 2007 NSP Sno Frolics Button, North St. Paul, MN 2006 Card sets (for 2 Private Parties) In Chisago County, MN 2006 Scenic Painting for Mahtomedi MS Theatre Production,          Mahtomedi, MN 2005 Acrylic Painting, As Gift, For Ms. R. Weldon, Maplewood, MN 2005 Lino Block Card Set, For Ms. Sapp, N. St. Paul, MN 2004 T-Shirt design, Weaver Music Dept.,Maplewood,MN 2004 Multicultural Banner, Weaver Elementary,Maplewood,MN 2003 Horse Portrait, Mr. & Mrs. Scott Muellner, Scandia,MN Other : *2008-2019 ISD #2144 Community Ed. Enrichment Art Instructor *2008-2009Featured Artist of Episode #310 of SPNN Lowertown Artists Series *One of 10 Media Finalists for the Spring 2006 St. Paul Art crawl poster competition * 1 of Approx. 15 artists chosen to represent Local St. Paul Artists at "St. Paul Illustrated" Magazine Launch party. *One of 10 Media Finalists for the Fall 2005 St. Paul Art Crawl poster competition. *Fall 2003-2006, Community Ed. Instructor, ISD 622 Acrylics *1996-1999 Art Enrichment Instructor, NW YMCA, Shoreview MN *1994-1999 Summer Art Specialist, NW YMCA, Shoreview,MN  Organizations: Member of The Saint Paul Art Collective 2003-2013, Member MN Artists.org. All images and text; Copyright 2003-2021 Michelle Dietz