Michele Guieu

Originally from France, Michele Guieu now lives in Bend, Oregon. Her journey has taken them across the U.S., with extended stays in San Diego and the Bay Area.

A visual artist with a background in graphic design, Michele specializes in large-scale, often participatory, indoor and outdoor installations using natural materials found on-site and salvaged materials. She particularly enjoys creating site-specific outdoor pieces that honor the natural world while addressing its rapid decline.

Michele Guieu worked as a teaching artist at Montalvo’s Teaching Artist program and with the Alliance for Youth Achievement in East San Jose in underserved communities for many years.

The words of French astrophysicist Aurélien Barrau deeply influence her practice: “Beauty is everywhere, but the catastrophe is immense.” Michele’s work reflects both awe and urgency, exploring the intersection of ecology, economy, energy, and equity. Living in a time of accelerating collapse, she addresses the poly-crisis driven by relentless extraction and pollution. While climate change is a key issue, it is just one aspect of a larger crisis involving mass extinction and ecological overshoot.

In 2023, Michele and her husband founded Authentique Art-Farm in Bend, Oregon, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and reconnection with the land. They grow and share vegetables with the community, donate to underserved populations, and sell through a cooperative. Additionally, Michele is developing an art workshop program exploring soil, land, and ecological connections—deepening the fusion of art and agriculture in their practice. She believes the future will be local, with community strength playing a crucial role.

Programs:

• Open Access: What’s Next for Earth (April 23, 2020)

Learn more about What’s Next for Earth and MAHB Arts