About

Michelle Yamamoto is an accomplished visual artist and educator with an extensive and varied background both internationally and locally.

Michelle's paintings are known for imaginative story telling, incorporating people and wildlife as subjects in a unique blend of realism and abstraction.

Her inspiration comes from exploring the widely ranging cultures she has lived in, from Kota Kinabalu on the island of Borneo to Beijing, China, Manila, Philippines, Whistler, Canada, and Hood River, Oregon. 

 Michelle has been intrigued and delighted by how her paintings of people bring people together. These paintings have inspired others to learn to paint, cementing her role as an arts educator.  Michelle's art programs in her private school, Art Circle are infused with mindfulness practices that inspire creativity and teach students to try new ways of art making and build up their skills in the foundations of fine art. 

Educated originally in Canada, she worked freelance in marketing, sales, public relations, and graphic design and as an art director for 12 years while living in Malaysia, China, and the Philippines. Since her first solo art show in Manila, the Philippines, in 2000, Michelle is thrilled to be head of the art department at Hood River New School for a second year and looks forward to connecting with students and encouraging them to learn new techniques of art-making!  

https://www.hoodrivernewschool.org/staff

Her murals, reflecting Hood River’s rich local culture and heritage are on permanent display in Odell Oregon, at the Hood River Museum of History and Henkle Middle School in White Salmon.

 Additionally, Michelle’s artwork is on year round display at “301 Art Galleryin downtown Hood River, Oregon where she loveconnecting with collectors and the art loving community of her fellow artist members.  

https://301gallery.com/michelleyamamoto-1