Michelle Harton (b.1983 Cavan, Ireland), is an artist whose work bridges mythology, spirituality, and contemporary introspection through vibrant layered mark making combined with realism. Working primarily in acrylic, she constructs luminous, dreamlike spaces that explore the unseen - the energies and emotional currents that connect people to place. She studied art at Fermanagh College in Northern Ireland, classical portraiture and figure painting and drawing at the private art school Studio Escalier in France, plein air painting with David Mynett in Majorca and is an alumnus of the intensive Creative Visionary Program with Nicholas Wilton along with many years of self-experimentation.

Much of Harton’s previous work has focused on her interest in folklore and the impact of stories while examining mystical forces, internal struggles and social injustice. Previous work has included series on the folklore of her hometown Cavan, the folklore of Korea and “The Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde”. Her practice also draws on the narratives and landscapes of Ireland, as well as influences from places she’s traveled. Across her ongoing series “The Land of Gemini”, Harton creates worlds that blur memory, imagination, and the natural environment, inviting viewers into immersive, meditative experiences of colour and form. The connection between people and animals is also another strong area of interest for Michelle and runs between her bodies of work.

In 2023 Harton was invited to collaborate with the Grand InterContinental Parnas, Seoul, as part of their Frieze Art Fair program, where her paintings were used to inspire a whimsical cocktail menu. Harton has exhibited in the Saatchi Gallery, London; Dublin Castle; Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, Belfast; among others and had multiple exhibitions in South Korea. Michelle’s work has received arts awards in Ireland from The Arts Council, Cavan County Council, and Fingal County Council. Her work is part of the permanent collections at the Irish Embassy in South Korea, The Townhall Theatre, Cavan and Cavan County Council, Ireland.