Michelle Dreselly: Bio

Michelle Dreselly is a professional artist based in New Hampshire’s seacoast area, where she creates from her home studio overlooking the serene Baxter Lake. In 2023, after stepping away from her role as a CFO, Michelle fully embraced her lifelong passion for art—a journey she began in her youth and developed through diverse career experiences. She studied fashion design at Marist College in New York and The Academy of Art College in San Francisco, earning a minor in Fine Arts from San Jose State University. Michelle furthered her expertise through programs at The NH Art Institute, Sanctuary Arts, and the Milan Art Institute’s Mastery Program, where she refined her skills in mixed media and oil painting.

Michelle’s art invites viewers into vibrant worlds of color, light, and emotion. Most known for expressive portraits of women, her work—a fusion of abstract expressionism and stylized realism—celebrates self-discovery, curiosity, and inner strength. Through layers of collage, textured acrylics, and the richness of oil paint, Michelle’s pieces evoke a spirit of transformation and empowerment, encouraging personal exploration and connection. “My art is a reflection of wonder, joy, and resilience,” she says. “I hope it sparks meaningful conversations, helping viewers connect not just with the art, but with parts of themselves.” Her work serves as both a voice and a form of healing, allowing her to express the bold, playful sides of herself that she once held back.

Currently, Michelle lives with her husband, Jim, and their quirky 80-pound hound dog, Bo. In the summers, she enjoys time on the lake — swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and boating. She loves traveling to warm places, is an avid reader, and embraces a strong yoga practice, which influences her approach to both her art and life. Her studio is open year-round by appointment, where visitors can experience firsthand the inspiration behind her work. Michelle continues to create work that resonates with collectors worldwide, sharing her message of beauty, strength, and healing with audiences everywhere

Artist Statement

My art celebrates beauty, resilience, and connection. I believe beauty goes beyond what we see; it’s something deeply felt—a presence that touches the heart. While inspired by my background in fashion design, I now embrace a more authentic expression that reflects the intangible layers of human experience. Each piece I create invites viewers to pause and reconnect, sparking feelings of nostalgia, renewal, healing, awe, or pure bliss.

Through a blend of collage, textured elements, acrylics, and mark-making, I build compositions enriched with depth and dimension, brought to life with the finishing richness of oil paint. My approach merges the spontaneity of abstract expressionism with the grounding familiarity of stylized realism, creating paintings that encourage exploration and reflect the multi-layered nature of our lives. Ultimately, I hope to remind viewers that beauty and strength often lie just beneath the surface, ready to be discovered when we take the time to slow down and truly connect.