Michelle Belto has been an artist and teacher since 1971. She holds a BA degree in Education, teaching certifications in Art and Theater, and an MA from John F Kennedy University in Arts & Consciousness. Her work as a performer, presenter and visual artist spans more than thirty years, three continents and thirteen publications.
Michelle Belto is a traditional artist working in non-traditional media. She creates her own canvases from hand-made paper and then paints on these amazing forms with colored layers of molten beeswax. Her contemporary paintings sit on the wall like sculpture. Rich in texture with a luminous quality that is hard to describe, viewers of her work often can’t help themselves from reaching out to touch the art.
Belto has exhibited throughout the United States in such venues as the Texas Museum of Fiber Arts Austin, Texas; Victor Fisher Gallery Oakland, California; the West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts West Bend, Indiana; and M2 Gallery, Houston, TX. She has been a featured presenter in such conferences as the National Catholic Educational Association, New Orleans, Lousiana; the International Dance Fellowship Conference, Sydney, Australia; and Convergence, National Visioning Conference, Chicago, Illinois. She has written and produced numerous scripts including Hildegard of Bingen a full length one woman play that she performed throughout the United States and Canada. Her most recent grant, Creative Capital, was awarded by the San Antonio Cultural Arts Department to further her career as a visual artist.
Michelle Belto now works full time as a visual artist, living in the Texas hill country with her husband and a menagerie of furry creatures.
Professional Experience
1973-Present
- National instructor in encaustic and papermaking
- Adjunct faculty Southwest School of Art San Antonio, Texas
- Teacher and resident artist, Hot Wax Studio, Bulverde, Texas
- Chair of Fine Arts Departments Various Texas High Schools: co-chair Non-public Schools Committee Texas Educational Theater Association
- Founder and Chair Arts council for Non-Public Schools 1982-1984
- Created original scripts and choreography and visual design for student touring productions Texas, New York, Europe.
Consultant/Presenter 1985-Present
- Presenter: Fourth Annual Encaustic Conference, Montserrat College, Beverley MA /Featured presenter Fifth Annual Encaustic Conference, Turov Center for the Arts, MA
- Visual Art Consultant: The Psychological Corporation, Oklahoma School Testing Program Visual Arts Test, US Academic Decathlon National Art Test Review (1997, 1998, 1999)
- Organizational consultant in the area of organizational change, creative visioning
- ·Featured presenter on topics of creativity, mental health and the role of arts in the healing process National Expressive Therapy Association, National Catholic Educational Association and National Catholic Health Care System *See Addendum
Visual Artist (Selected Exhibits) 1989-Present
2011 Conversations in Paper and Wax, Encaustic Center, Dallas, TX (Solo show)
2011 Uncommon Elements, Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, TX (Solo show)
2010 Memories in Black and White, Luminaria, San Antonio, TX (Grantee solo show)
2010 Texas Hot Wax, 1550 Gallery, Kerrville, Texas (Member show)
2009 Elements, Austin International Airport, Austin, Texas (Invitational)
2009 Circle Squared Hotel Valencia, San Antonio, Texas (Solo show)
2009 Degrees M2 Gallery Houston, Texas (Member Juried Traveling Show)
2008 Fused Expressions Bay 6 Gallery, Austin, Texas (Member Show)
2008 RX Art, Bihl Haus Arts, San Antonio. (Invitational. Catalogue)
2007 Labor of Love, Texas State Capitol. Texas Museum of Fiber Arts (Juried Show)
2007 In the Moment, Blue Star, Studio 120 No.2, San Antonio, Texas (Solo Show)
2005-2007 Member’s Exhibit, RAC Gallery, San Antonio, Texas (Group Juried Show)
2004-2006 Airport Exhibit, San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio, Texas (Group Juried Show)
2003 Studio 9 Collection, Blue Star Art Space, San Antonio, Texas. (Juried Group Show) Catalogue
2002 Ancient Arts, Pottery/Paper, Gallery in the Village, Bulverde, Texas. (Solo show/two artists)
2000 & 2004 All School Exhibition Russell Hill Rogers Gallery, Southwest School of Arts and Crafts,
San Antonio, Texas (Group Juried Exhibition)
1992 Easter Light, West Bend Gallery of Fine Arts, West Bend, IN. (Group Juried Exhibition.) Catalogue
1990 “Spirit into Matter, Victor Fisher Gallery, Oakland, California. (Group Juried Exhibition.)
1990 Poised Between Paradigms, Human Consciousness Gallery, John F. Kennedy University (Solo Exhibition)
Corporate Collections
VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, Miami FL
eEmployer Solutions, San Antonio TX
Innovative Leadership/Awards/Grants
- 2010-Luminarias Grant Receiptiant
- 2009-Artist Foundation of San Antonio, Grant Finalist
- 2009-Creative Capital Grant recipient, City of San Antonio Cultural Arts
- 2008-Present Founder and Chapter Director Texas WAX/SA, Board Texas Wax
- 2002-2009 Founder and Chair Timberwood Art Annual Studio Tour
- 1989-1991 Founder and Executive Director Center for Spirituality and Art (San Antonio, Texas)
Education
BA in Secondary Education: Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, TX
MA Art and Consciousness: John F. Kennedy University, Orinda CA
Texas Teaching Certification: Secondary Theater Arts, Visual Arts and English
Certification: National Expressive Arts Therapy Association
Post Graduate: Southwest School of Art, 1990-Present
R&F, Encaustics and Advanced Teaching, 2008-2009
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