Contact, About and CV

Michaela lives and works in country NSW just south of Canberra, Australia’s National capital city. She has lived at ‘Wrens Nest’ since 2002, moving there from Sydney. The landscape of this unique place has become part of her soul. It is a land of expansive skies and rugged mountains formed by a harsh climate. She has become acutely aware of the comings and goings of animals and birds, the change of seasons and the beauty of changing light each day.

In her latest work, she has turned her attention to combining beautiful antique objects with the enchanting birds who visit her garden and surrounding land. These works are called ‘The Loved Objects’ Collection. She continues to be inspired and delighted by objects in her home, objects she sees in her travels and those she sees at auction houses. In her imagination, the beautiful objects are visited throughout the year by many and varied bird species. She creates magical still life arrangements by combining the things she loves – with the creatures she loves. A little whimsy is always thrown in just for fun. 

In her past collections, Michaela brought whimsy and magic to her interpretation of landscape. She brought the viewers world of moody calm and stillness with elements appearing from her imagination and childhood. Human made elements invite the viewer to enter the landscape and imagine themselves walking through and then interacting with it. These ideas and themes appear in the collections Faraway Trees, Bonsai Magic, Islands in the Bay and Shop Windows.

AWARDS

2022  1st Prize National Awards and Exhibition Australian Society Miniature Art in Mixed Media Category.  Finalist in ‘Re-imagined 2022’ Hornsby. Finalist, ‘Little Things Art Prize, St Cloche Gallery Paddington.                                                                                                                                    2021  Silver Medal in the category Maritime and Inland Waterways, Australian Society of Miniature Artists, Tasmania.                                                                                                                      2020  2^nd Prize Mixed Media, ASOC Spring Exhibition, Fitters Workshop, Kingston.   3^rd Prize Miniature, ASOC Spring Exhibition, Fitters Workshop, Kingston.                                                              2019  Highly Commended Mixed Media Miniature, ASMA National Awards Exhibition, Ewart Gallery, Willoughby. Selected to hang in the M16 Drawing Prize.
2018  ACT Catchment Groups Art Prizes Exhibition 2018. The Fitters Workshop, Kingston ACT. Awarded the Southern ACT Catchment Prize and Highly Commended
2017  1st Prize Miniature. Royal Canberra Show.  Honorable Mention 32nd Chelsea International Art Award, New York.  Highly Commended Miniature Royal Easter Show Sydney.  Finalist in the Hunter’s Hill Annual Exhibition and Awards.  1st Prize Mixed Media Miniature, ASMA National Awards Exhibition, Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.  The ASOC/Ginninderra Catchment Prize, Fitters Workshop, Kingston ACT.  The Artbox Basel Project, Basel Art Week, Switzerland
2016  Selected to hang in the Salon des Refuses. S.H. Ervin Gallery Sydney
Salon Des Refuses. Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery
2015  National Awards Exhibition. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW. Awarded Highly Commended in the Mixed Media

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1990 “Casual Moments” Punch Gallery, Balmain
1991 “Fact and Fantasy” Punch Gallery, Balmain
1994 “Precious Finds” Cornucopia Gallery, Newtown
1995 “Colour Dancing” Ramon Art Studio, Turramurra
2015 “Far Horizons” Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick, ACT

GROUP EXHIBITIONS    

2022                                                                                                                                                          ‘Birds n Bloom’ Sutton Village Gallery, Sutton, NSW.    ‘It’s All in the Detail’ Manning Regional Gallery, Taree, NSW.   The Affordable Art Fair, Randwick Racecourse for Rochfort Gallery.   Australian Society of Miniature Art 2022 Awards Exhibition. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW.  The Reimagine Art Prize 2022 Hornsby.   ‘It’s All in The Detail’ NERAM, New England Regional Art Museum.  The Summer Show. The Milk Factory, Bowral.  AIM Art in Miniature at Altenburg Gallery, Braidwood

2021                                                                                                                                                              ‘Art in Miniature’ The Link at Ginninderry, Holt ACT.   Rochfort Gallery, North Sydney.   Suki And Hugh, Bungendore.   Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick – Gallery Artists Exhibition.   Australian Society of Miniature Art, NSW – Annual Awards Exhibition.    Australian Society of Miniature Art, Tasmania – Annual Awards Exhibition. 

2020                                                                                                                                                                “Intimate Universe” Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea, NSW.    “Intimate Universe” Maitland Regional Gallery.   ‘I Love Plants Exhibition’. Lion Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.   AIM. ‘Art in Miniature’ Annual Exhibition. Raglan Gallery Cooma.   Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick                         

2019                                                                                                                                                            The Christmas Exhibition at Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick.    M16 Drawing Prize at M16 Art Gallery, Griffith, ACT.   Spring Exhibition ASOC, Fitters Workshop, Kingston ACT. ‘Bloody Beautiful – Fine Art of Australia’ at Rochfort Gallery North Sydney.    ACT Catchment Groups Art Prizes Exhibition.  The Canberra Centre, Canberra, ACT.   ASMA National Awards Exhibition, Ewart Gallery, Willoughby

2018
Q Theatre Gallery, Queanbeyan. 10th Anniversary Exhibition.   ACT Catchment Groups Art Prizes Exhibition 2018.   The Fitters Workshop, Kingston ACT.   ASMA National Awards Exhibition, Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.   Chute Space Gallery, M16 Artspace. Installation “Which Tree to Climb”.
‘Whimsy – Narratives of the Imagination” Rochfort Gallery, Sydney.   ‘Art in Miniature’ Altenburg & Co Gallery, Braidwood.

2017
AIM “Art in Miniature” Strathnairn Gallery, Holt, ACT.   ASMA National Awards Exhibition, Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.   The ASOC/Ginninderra Catchment Prize, Fitters Workshop, Kingston ACT.
Projected Image at the The Artbox Basel Project, Basel Art Week, Switzerland.

2016
ASMA “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” Juniper Hall, Paddington.   Salon des Refuses. S.H. Ervin Gallery Sydney.   ASMA National Awards Exhibition. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.   Salon Des Refuses. Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery.   Art in Miniature. Raglan Gallery Cooma.

2015
National Awards Exhibition. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby, NSW.    “The Perfect Gift” Yarralumla Gallery, Yarralumla, ACT.

2014
M16 Artspace 2014 Drawing Prize.    “A Touch of Red” Salerno Gallery Glebe.

2013
ASMA National Exhibition & Awards. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.   Christmas Exhibition Mawson Gallery, Mawson, ACT.   Annual Exhibition Yarralumla Gallery, Yarralumla, ACT.

2012 – 2008
Paper Quilt Creations
2009 – published “Paper Quilting” A handbook on paper quilting techniques.
2011 – Paper Quilt Creations patterns nominated as one of the top 20 Innovation products at the Craft & Hobby Association Winter Show, Los Angeles, USA.
2012 – Contracted to the McCall’s Pattern Company in New York. McCall’s prints, markets and distributes 34 patterns designed by Michaela Laurie originator of Paper Quilt Creations.
2013 – Exhibited at the McCall’s 150th Anniversary stand at the Craft and Hobby Association Winter Trade Show, Anaheim, USA.
2009 – 2013 – workshops for Bernina Australia at the Craft and Sewing Shows Australia wide. Stitches and Craft Show in Sydney and Melbourne. Paperific Expo in Melbourne. Mad Quilter’s Gathering in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. White Dragon Papercraft Store Teacher.

2007
ASMA National Exhibition & Awards. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.   Christmas Exhibition Mawson Gallery, Mawson, ACT.   Annual Exhibition Yarralumla Gallery, Yarralumla, ACT
2006
“Small and Smaller” Hornsby Art Gallery, NSW.   “Art in Miniature” Bungendore Fine Art Gallery.
ASMA National Exhibition & Awards. Ewart Gallery, Willoughby.

2005
ASMA National Exhibition and Awards Ewart Gallery, Willoughby
Art in Miniature Society ACT. Yarralumla Gallery, Yarralumla, ACT

2003
ASMA Qld International Exhibition and Awards Gold Coast, QLD.   Canberra Contemporary Art Awards Exhibition Braddon, ACT.   Canberra Miniature Society Raglan Gallery, Cooma, NSW.   ASMA National Exhibition and Awards Vista Blue, North Sydney.   ASMA QLD International Exhibition and Awards Gold Coast, QLD.

2001
ASMA National Exhibition & Awards Kur-ring-gai Gallery, Arts Centre
Hilliard Society Annual Exhibition Portway Wells, Somerset, UK
2000
ASMA National Exhibition and Awards Kur-ring-gai Gallery, Arts Centre
“Miniature Treasures Extraordinaire” Finks Café & Gallery, Waverton
“Miniature” Nowra Galleries, Nowra
1999
ASMA National Exhibition and Awards Kur-ring-gai Gallery, Arts Centre
1998
“Miniature Highlights” Hazelhurst Retreat Gallery, Gymea
“Small Treasurers” Artists Gallery, Hunters Hill
“Small Pictures, Great Harmony” Nagano, Japan Winter Olympics
“Special Moments” Artrysts Gallery, Frenches Forest
1997
“Multum in Parvo” Artists Gallery, Hunters Hill
“Kaleidoscope of Miniatures” The Monad Gallery, Mosman
“Exposition du Club des Miniaturists Australiens” a la Galerie Austral,Noumea
1996
“Micro Art in the 90’s” Holdsworth Gallery, Woollahra
“More Than Meets the Eye” The Private Gallery, Surry Hills
1995
“Large and Small – Changing Dimensions” Regional Gallery of Burnie, TAS
“Definitely Decorative” Seasons Gallery, North Sydney
“Consuming Passions” Duke of Wellington Gallery, Mosman
1994
“Wild Cards” Seasons Gallery, North Sydney
“Miniatures” Duke of Wellington Gallery, Mosman
1989
“Black and White” Punch Gallery, Balmain

*ASMA – Australian Society of Miniature Art (NSW)
**AIM – Art in Miniature (ACT)
***ASOC – Artists Society of Canberra

Workshops

2020 – Workshops at Wren’s Nest Studio                                                                                                    2019 – Fiber Arts Association ACT. Mixed Media and Coloured Pencils
Canberra Arts Workshop (CAW) – Coloured Pencil and Mixed Media Whimsical Worlds
2018 – Canberra Arts Workshop (CAW) – Coloured Pencil and Mixed Media Whimsical Worlds
Education
1978 – 1981 – Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
1982 – Bachelor of Secondary Education, University of Sydney
East Sydney Technical College, Darlinghurst – Painting
Willoughby Arts Workshop – Etching and lithography
Ku-ring-gai Arts Workshop, Roseville – Watercolour and Gouche
Appointments and Miscellaneous
• Council of Pymble Ladies College Pymble 1998 – 2002
• National Trust Australia – The Lindsay Fair Committee 2002
• Newsletter Editor Australian Miniature Society of Australia (NSW) 1995 – 1998
• Guest contributor to Australian Artists Magazine 1989. Feature articles on woodcut artist Ruth  Burgess and screen-print artist Charles Arnott
• Newsletter Editor Artists Society of Canberra 2018 – 2021
• Web page for Art in Miniature Society