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The lines of a life

Michael Bell grew up in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, spending much of his early years in and around New York City. His hands first learned the weight of a brush under the guidance of his maternal grandmother, Violet Vallery, a self-taught artist. By the age of five, he was already participating in juried exhibitions. This early immersion in the physical act of making art shaped a practice that would later bridge the gap between the classroom and the studio. He pursued formal training at Lycoming College in Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, and later studied art education at Towson University.

His work often moves through layers of memory and identity. In his studio in Chestertown, Maryland, he develops pieces that rely on sequential storytelling and recurring imagery. He uses objects as metaphors—a mirror acting as a threshold or an empty chair suggesting a presence. This method of narrative artmaking allows him to explore the spaces between what is seen and what is concealed. His practice involves drawing, writing, collage, and mixed media, often unfolding in thematic series where figures and interiors reappear across different works.

Portraits and shadows

A specific side of his career involved painting portraits that captured figures from a particular era of New York life. He painted individuals such as John Gotti and various actors known for their roles in crime dramas like The Sopranos, Goodfellas, and A Bronx Tale. These commissions brought a certain grit to his portraiture. His paintings, including works like Getaway Car and The Transfer, exist within the realms of Surrealism, Neo-Figurative Art, and Contemporary Realism.

Beyond the canvas, his life has been marked by roles as a screenwriter, author, and educator. He published a memoir titled Dual Lives: from the Streets to the Studio in 2017, which looks back at his experiences as both an educator and a portraitist. His work also extends into activism, particularly regarding autism and anti-bullying efforts, driven by personal experiences within his own family.

A legacy of visual journaling

In the field of art education, he is noted for helping to pioneer the Visual Journaling movement. This approach focuses on the process rather than a finished product, encouraging learners to use art as a way to document their own lived experiences. His teaching career earned him several recognitions, including being named a National Board Certified Teacher and receiving various honors from the National Art Education Association.

• Developed a practice centered on narrative artmaking and mixed media.
• Worked with themes of memory, identity, and personal history.
• Integrated educational leadership with a studio practice in Maryland.