Meet Michelle Noah | Artist & Gallery Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Noah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I’m a natural risk-taker! My motto is usually “why not, just try it” and, while it’s gotten me into some funny situations for sure, I think it’s also been the reason I’ve been able to stay in the game for this long. I have an internal drive to explore and push myself to find new opportunities and adventures, and owning my own art business has been one of the biggest adventures of my life. I’m so glad I said yes to crazy roadtrips, unusual shows, and some wild commissions. Creating is at the core of what I do – creating my work and creating opportunities! Working with professionals to create my website and social channels has been game-changing for my exposure and, ultimately, client leads. And, while Covid 19 has forced me to think of creative ways to get my work out there, it’s been incredible to connect with client digitally.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I love color and my art reflects that. I’m a high energy person and I want my art to be energetic. A series I have been working on the past year is 9 paintings that visually describe the 9 Enneagrams.. it is part of a Solo Exhibition that will be on display at the Eisemann Center Green Mezzanine Gallery for the month of December 2020. One of the things I have learned in creating this series is having my art mean something. Each painting tells a story about that enneagram. It is helpful to have 6 colorful members of the Noah family to draw from. Each of my 4 adult children are a different enneagram. I have been pleasantly surprised at the interest in this series. People love to explore their own personality and the personalities of the people they love. I think the way to be a successful artist is to paint as much as you can and to find your voice in your art. Painting in a series gives me the opportunity to explore a theme and have continuity in my artwork. I want the world to love looking at and thinking about my artwork. Hopefully it will bring enjoyment and something good to their experience. And if they want to take it home with them that’s even better.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love adventure and I really love taking a close friend along on my adventure. Day 1…We would start with coffee and a Swedish Knot at Rosalind Coffee Company on the Square in Historic Downtown Garland. Of course we would swing by Current Artist Workshop On 9th Street to check out my latest series. Then on to the DMA to check out their exhibit. Lunch at Klyde Warren Park Food Trucks. While we are downtown we can just walk to the Nasher to see their collection of sculptures and stroll through their gardens. We head back to my house in Lake Highlands for nap but first we call Only Nail for a spa pedicure on the corner by my house. For dinner we stay local and make a reservation at RM12:20 French Bistro. Day 2…we head to Fort Worth. The Kimbell Museum is one of my favorite places. They open at 11:00 so we have time to hit the Antique Mall on Montgomery street. We have to pace ourselves because we must also include the AmonCarter and the Modern. Lunch at the famous Joe T Garcia family owned Mexican restaurant. Bring cash they don’t take credit cards. We have to get back to Dallas before the 5:00 traffic slows us down.. We stop at Northpark Mall on our way home. Neimans and Nordstrom’s are a must. After an Orange Pineapple spritzer at the EBar we head back to Lake Highlands. Day 3 is reserved for the Dallas Arboretum. It’s best to get there when they open mornings are so beautiful there. We can even do a little plein aire painting while we are there.. Don’t forget to make our dinner reservations for The Rise. They have amazing soufflés. Day 4 This is our last day together so let’s make it count. I know We have already seen a lot of museums but we must include…. Historic 6Th floor museum, The Holocaust Museum and the Red Court House museum.. Let’s end our day with my favorite Tex Mex: Mi Cocina in Lake Highlands. Dallas Fort Worth is a fantastic place to visit and we have only scratched the surface.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Terry and my daughter Molly. I had a vision for Current Artist Workshop for a while before it became a reality. Finding a space and taking the risk of paying rent to open my own Art Studio and Gallery was a huge undertaking. Terry believed in me and my art and financially supported my start up. My daughter Molly has a master’s degree in Museum Science and has used her expertise to get me started. She has very good instincts and is not afraid to be totally honest with me. My website and social media is a reality because of her. She pushes me to be excellent and keeps me focused.

Website: MichelleBNoah.com
Instagram: Current Artist Workshop
Facebook: Michelle Noah/ Current Artist Workshop

Image Credits
Molly Noah