About
MT Soncini
Michele’s work is figurative, and image driven. As a lover of contour lines and the permanence of ink, she free hands her ink drawings then builds the story with marker or watercolor. She believes the irreversible nature of ink invokes an honesty to her drawings and often presents a visual problem in need of solving.
Michele creates figure-based visual narratives to process her nearly 30 years working in the criminal justice system and social services. She has witnessed the worst and best of the human condition. Art making provides a medium for her to explore her experiences on a deeper level, and to offer what can be described as a whimsical interpretation of life’s most difficult situations.
Michele is part of an art collective, the Bunker Creative, which meet twice a week to work from a live model. She lives in Maplewood, NJ with her husband and their three hairless cats. She is an avid runner and cyclist.
Artist Resume
IG: @maladapted_daydreamer, @thebunkercreative
Education
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ; Master of Science in Criminology, Fine Arts emphasis
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ; Fine Arts/Drawing, Forensic Physical Anthropology
Scottsdale Artist’s School, Scottsdale, AZ; Forensic Facial Reconstruction (2D/3D), Fine Arts
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Fine Arts
Awards
Honorable Mention, MGNE 3rd Annual Monotype Exhibition; Wenham, MA; 2013
Elmer Taflinger Award for Figure Drawing; Indianapolis, IN; 2009
The Great Frame Up Award for Presentation; Indianapolis, IN; 2009
Jurors Award Perkins Center ‘Works on Paper’; Moorestown, NJ; 2004
Selected Solo Exhibitions
Images of Women In Glass; Haddon Township, NJ; 2007
Annual Fall Art and Music Showcase; Plymouth Meeting, PA; 2005
Annual Fall Art and Music Showcase; Plymouth Meeting, PA; 2004
Selected Group Exhibitions
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2022
Maplewood Small Works Art Fair; Maplewood, NJ; 2022
SOMA Open Studio Tour; Maplewood & South Orange, NJ; 2021
Maplewood Art and Music Festival; Maplewood, NJ; 2021
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2019
The Bunker Creative Presents, “Bunker Pet Portraits,” A Paper Hat, Maplewood, NJ; 2019
The Bunker Creative Presents, “Figures From The Bunker,” A Paper Hat, Maplewood, NJ; 2018
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2018
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2016
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2014
Lasting Impressions, Monotype Group Exhibition, Visual Art Center, Summit, NJ; 2013
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2013
MGNE 3rd National Monotype Exhibition, Wenham, MA; 2013
Exhale Unlimited Gallery, Los Angeles, California; 2013
Summer Suite, Group Drawings and Paintings, Palette & Chisel, Chicago, IL; 2012
Featured Artist, French Bleu Fine Art Gallery, Arts & Design District Gallery Walk, Carmel, IN; 2011
Featured Artist; ArtSplash, Carmel, IN; 2012
Tyler Collaborative Print Mural; Philadelphia, PA; 2010, 2011
Featured Artist; French Bleu Fine Art Gallery, Carmel, IN; 2010
Rock The District; Carmel, IN; 2010
Carmel Arts & Design Gallery Art Walk, Works on Paper Exhibition; Carmel, IN 2010
Crash Glass Icons; Urban Optiks, Broad Ripple Village; Indianapolis, IN; 2010
Art Of Wine; Carmel, IN; 2010
Kinsey Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Bloomington, IN; 2010
Romancing the Page Works On Paper; Indianapolis, IN; 2010
Stutz Open House; Indianapolis, IN; 2010
Carmel Arts & Design District Gallery Walk, Mosaics Exhibition; Carmel, IN; 2010
One Peek Show; Indianapolis, IN; 2010
Henry County Stutz Featured Artists; Henry County, IN; 2010
Art of the 4th Chakra; Indianapolis, IN; 2010
Indianapolis Art Center, Works On Paper; 2009
Holiday Arts Exhibition, Stutz Art Center; Indianapolis, IN; 2009
Perkins Center For The Arts; Moorestown, NJ; 2007
Mixed Media ‘Works On Paper’; Doylestown, PA; 2006
Homage to Isaiah Zagar; Collingswood, NJ; 2006
Philadelphia Sketch Club ‘Prints and Drawings’; Philadelphia, PA; 2005
Mixed Media Art 30; Doylestown, PA; 2005
Perkins Center For The Arts; Moorestown, NJ; 2005
Self-Portrait Exhibition; Titusville, NJ; 2005
Bucks County Community College Juried Print Show; Newtown, PA; 2005
Woodmere 65th Annual Juried Exhibition; Chestnut Hill, PA; 2005
Bucks County Community College Printmaking Show; Newtown, PA; 2005
‘Prayers Project’ for AIDS Awareness; Newtown, PA; 2004
Medical Healing Arts Print Exhibition; Doylestown, PA; 2004
Bucks County Community College Juried Print Show; Newtown, PA; 2004
Medical Healing Arts Print Exhibition; Doylestown, PA; 2004
Bucks County Community College Juried Print Show; Newtown, PA; 2003
Special Projects and Additional Creative Experiences
Carmel Marathon Streaker Finisher’s Medal; Carmel, IN; 2012
Inaugural Carmel Marathon Commemorative Poster; Carmel, IN; 2011
Indiana Re Entry Educational Facility Art Program Instructor; Indianapolis, IN 2011-2012
Mosaic Art Yearbook; 2009
Broadside Print Project; Philadelphia, PA; 2002
Coconino County Juvenile Detention Center ‘Thoughts From Behind Brick Walls’; Flagstaff, AZ; 2001
Coconino County Juvenile Detention Center ‘Peace’ Mural’; Flagstaff, AZ; 2001
Coconino County Juvenile Detention Center Art Program Instructor; Flagstaff, AZ; 2000-2001
Coconino County Jail Art Instructor; Flagstaff, AZ; 2000-2001
Affiliations and Memberships
The Bunker Creative Figurative Collaborative; Maplewood, NJ
Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts; Chicago, IL