Bio
Michelle Valigura is a sculptor, with a primary focus on ceramics.
Her background designing for stop motion animation (including Elf, and the Simpsons) and her love of mid century design have built a foundation that allows her to work in multiple mediums.
She has licensed her characters to Disneyland, Kidrobot, Paradise Toys and other art brands, eventually forming her own design company Switcheroo, in 2007 with artist Amanda Visell.
She has exhibited her work, lectured and taught workshops at galleries, museums and universities worldwide.
CV
Lectures, Workshops Etc
Switcheroo Institute for Lower Learning, 2010-2013
Corona Capital, Mexico City 2013
Ace hotel, Palm Springs 2013
Emily Carr University, Vancouver, Canada 2013
Art Toyz, Paris, France 2012
Urban Outfitters, Hollywood 2012
Guru Galleria, Mexico city 2012
Taipei Toy Festival, Taipei, Taiwan 20011
Roac Art Center, Manila, Philippines 2011
Freak Store, Caracas, Venezuela 2010
Camion de pompier, Montreal, Canada 2009
Notable Publications
Hello Art 2012
Freeman's catalog 2010
Three Apples 2009
LA Times 2007
Softies 2007
Plush You 2007
Dot Dot Dash 2006
Selected group exhibitions
2013
8 bit Gallery, Los Angeles "Grace and Ritual"
Q Pop Gallery, Los Angeles (with Bwana Spoons) "fuck shit up"
2012
Subtext Gallery, San Diego "Nature Calls"
2011
Capro Nason , Los Angeles "Playboy Redux"
Paradise Gallery, Taipei Taiwan, (with Amanda Visell) "eating the sun"
2010
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles "Primeval Love"(with Amanda Visell)
Grasshut Gallery, Portland, OR "Make it or Brake it"
2009
Royal T "Three Apples"
Warhol Museum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania "Vadar Project"
2008
Disneyland art gallery "Peter Pan 55th anniversary"
Hard Rock casino hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada "Pop Surrealism, Crime on Canvas"
Nucleus Gallery, Los Angels "Band of Bugs"
2007
Disneyland art gallery, "Pirates of the Caribbean 40th anniversary"
Disneyland art gallery "The Enchanted Tiki Room 45th anniversary"
Mesa Art Museum, Mesa, Arizona "Beyond the Cel"
2006
1988 Gallery, Los Angeles "i am 8 bit"
M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs "James Bond tribute"
Solo exhibitions
"Bandimals" Rotofugi, Chicago, Illinois 2012
"Not here to make friends" Portland, Oregon 2011
"Slaphappy" Rotofugi, Chicago, Illinois 2010
"Creation Mutation" M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs 2009