Interview
Michel L’Artiste
Michel L’Artiste embodies a journey that bridges continents and disciplines. Born somewhere near the ocean and educated in Switzerland, now in New York, where his artistic vision found its full expression. His work blends abstract figurative forms, faceless silhouettes, layered textures, and symbolic luxury elements to explore themes of love, identity, emotional transformation, and spiritual connection. Inspired by water, movement, and the invisible currents of human emotion, Michel creates paintings that feel both intimate and universal. His work reflects the belief that art is more than visual—it is energy, healing, and legacy. Through textured layering, expressive color, and gold symbolism, he transforms emotional experience into timeless collectible art. Michel has showcased his work during Art Basel Week, including Context Art Miami, and continues to build a growing international presence through original fine art pieces and exclusive limited-edition collections.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born in Mauritius, and my life has always been shaped by movement, contrast, and transformation. Coming from an island surrounded by water and carrying a multicultural identity, I grew up feeling deeply connected to nature, spirituality, and the invisible emotional currents that define human life. My journey into the art world began long before I understood what “being an artist” truly meant. Art was never just a hobby for me—it was survival. It was my way of translating emotions that were too intense, too complex, or too sacred to explain with words. Over time, painting became my language. I started creating seriously when I realized that my work wasn’t only personal—it resonated with others. It had presence. It had energy. It carried story. That’s when I stopped seeing art as something I do, and started understanding it as something I am. After Living in the United States, especially being influenced by New York’s intensity, pushed my ambition further. I wanted to create work that could exist in the global contemporary art world—not just as decoration, but as a powerful collectible statement.”
What inspires you?
“I’m inspired by what people hide. The emotions we don’t say out loud. The memories we bury. The love we lose. The transformation we’re forced to go through. I’m inspired by the moments where life breaks you—and you rebuild yourself stronger. Water is one of my deepest symbols. Waves, currents, and movement appear constantly in my work because water is life: it represents change, chaos, cleansing, longing, rebirth, and spiritual alignment. It reminds me that nothing stays the same—and that’s exactly where beauty exists. I’m also inspired by: human connection and separation identity and cultural duality spirituality and destiny love, desire, vulnerability luxury aesthetics and timeless visual power the contrast between softness and strength Sometimes inspiration is a memory. Sometimes it’s a silence. Sometimes it’s a storm.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Yes, my work always carries a message. The themes I pursue are: transformation, emotional survival, identity, spiritual connection, love and longing, rebirth, legacy and beauty through brokenness. My work is about what happens beneath the surface. I paint the invisible. A recurring theme is the idea that humans are constantly evolving—sometimes through joy, sometimes through pain. I often incorporate gold or luminous details as a symbol of resilience: the part of you that refuses to stay broken. There is a philosophy behind everything I create: Art is not meant to simply be seen. It is meant to be felt. I want my paintings to act like mirrors. When a collector connects with my work, it’s not random—it’s energetic alignment. I believe the artwork reflects something inside the viewer. Something they recognize, even if they can’t explain it.”
“My work is contemporary abstract figurative art, rooted in emotion, symbolism, and luxury. Visually, it blends minimalism with intensity.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is contemporary abstract figurative art, rooted in emotion, symbolism, and luxury. Visually, it blends minimalism with intensity. My signature language includes faceless silhouettes, expressive linework, layered textures, and fluid movement like waves. I often leave the faces undefined because I want the viewer to become the subject. My art is personal, but it is also universal. The pieces feel sensual, spiritual, and raw—yet refined. I create paintings that look like they carry history. Like they’ve lived through something. My work can be described as: contemporary abstract figurative; emotional storytelling; symbolic and spiritual; layered and textured; sensual, bold, and modern; luxurious yet deeply human. The goal is always the same: to create art that becomes a presence in a space, not just an object.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m influenced by artists who create worlds—artists who don’t just paint, but build a universe around their vision. I admire Pablo Picasso for his boldness and his ability to break reality apart and rebuild it in a way that feels even more emotionally true. His work reminds me that art does not need to be realistic to be powerful—it needs to be honest. I’m also inspired by Joseph Klibansky, especially as a living contemporary artist. I respect the way he merges modern luxury, strong visual identity, and collectible appeal while still keeping the work emotionally impactful. His ability to create art that feels both timeless and modern resonates deeply with my own direction. And I’m inspired by Gustav Klimt, particularly for his use of gold. Gold in my work is not simply decorative—it symbolizes value, healing, and transformation. It represents the idea that what was broken can return stronger, brighter, and even more precious. Ultimately, I take inspiration from these artists, but my goal is to build a signature language that is unmistakably mine—one that carries emotion, symbolism, and presence under the name Michel L’Artiste.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is both controlled and instinctive, also like to explore next techniques. I usually begin with a feeling. Not a concept—a feeling. Then I build the piece through layers. I like the idea that the canvas holds time, like a human being. My process often includes: washes of color and movement, textured layering, expressive strokes, silhouette outlines and symbolic forms, metallic gold or luminous accents, hidden details beneath surface layers. Sometimes a painting takes days. Sometimes it takes weeks. I don’t rush it. I let the piece reveal itself. I treat my work like energy transfer. Every layer is a decision. Every mark is a memory. The final result is not just visual—it’s emotional architecture.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role is to make people feel again. We live in a world overloaded with noise, speed, and surface-level living. Art is one of the last sacred spaces where emotion can exist without explanation. Artists create culture. Artists create identity. Artists create truth. I believe the role of the artist is evolving into something even bigger today: people don’t just want art—they want meaning, story, and legacy. Art is also becoming a true asset. A collector is not only buying beauty; they are buying history, identity, and energy. Unlike trends or unstable markets, art holds value because it is real. It is physical. It is emotional. It becomes a legacy. I strongly believe living artists deserve to be valued more. Supporting living artists is supporting culture itself.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“A major highlight of my career was showcasing my work during Art Basel Week, including Context Art Miami. Being part of that international atmosphere was a defining moment for me as an emerging contemporary artist. Art Basel Week is not just an event—it’s a global stage. It placed my work in front of collectors, galleries, and art lovers from around the world, and confirmed that my art has a place in the contemporary art conversation. That experience pushed my ambition further. It strengthened my mission to grow internationally and to position my work as both collectible and timeless. My next focus is building more global exposure, international exhibitions (upcoming Paris, Japan, Milan and Madrid), and deeper collector relationships.”
Website: michelart.store
Instagram: @michellartiste
Other links: www.pinterest.com/michellartiste
