SWAIA ARTIST Profile

Mikaela Shafer

Name
Mikaela Shafer
Tribe
Pueblo of Hopi
Classification(s)
2-D

SWAIA Booth History

SFIM25
PLZ 27
SFIM24
PLZ 27
WIM25

2025 Best of Show Awards

First Place
-
Second Place
-
Honorable Mentions
-

2024 Best of Show Awards

First Place
Iiib. Category 1205 - Mixed Media 2D Art in 2D
Second Place
-
Honorable Mentions
-
Portfolio Example & Materials Statement
Mikaela Shafer

As an abstract expressionist artist, I explore the intersection of memory and emotion through a diverse array of materials and techniques. My artistic practice integrates sewing, painting, and weaving, often utilizing innovative materials such as kombucha leather, gauze, leather, and dried corn for pattern printing. Techniques like weaving and monoprinting contribute to the tactile quality of my work. Additionally, my paintings, often created en plein air, capture the dynamic relationship between the landscape and the human experience.Each piece emerges from an instinctual process, reflecting a raw engagement with the world around me. I frequently develop mini-series of 2 to 6 pieces, each illustrating the fluid nature of memory and feeling, while showcasing the interplay of various materials and techniques that define my artistic voice.