Michelle René, Artist-in-Residence, Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany, Italy
CAREER SUMMARY
Michelle René Cobb is a American artist and educator in Washington DC. Her art career began as a designer for Time-Life Books and later she became the first Black Art Director for Sports Illustrated magazine. At Sports Illustrated she designed advertising campaigns for the Olympics, NBA, NFL, US Open, Kentucky Derby, World Series, NCCA, Indy 500, and the Superbowl. Michelle René later co-founded New York City Design firm, Spellman, Bostic & Williams, which included the following clients; CBS, Bell Atlantic, Citibank, Time-Warner, Tony Brown’s Journal, United Negro College Fund, the Washington Post, National Council of Negro Women, the Black Student Fund, Obama For America Campaign, Arthur Ashe Foundation, Yolanda Adams, and Wynton Marsalis Enterprises. She later served as a Communications Director and as a College Board AP Studio Art Reader/Table Leader. She was also an animator assistant for the feature-length film, Raggedy Anne and Andy.
Michelle René’s love of plein air painting began when she was fortunate enough to study with the late master painter, Edward Loper, Sr. During this apprenticeship that began in the 90s, she learned to develop her unique sense of color and light to capture the spirit of the environment. Her works are all created on location and serve as an autobiography of her life experiences and travels. Throughout her career, Michelle René participated in several prestigious art residencies around the world including France, Spain, Canada, Italy, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Washington DC, New York, and Martha’s Vineyard. Her work has received numerous awards and has been collected in the US and Europe.
As a highly respected art educator, Michelle René has taught traditional and digital art for over 25 years, including launching the first computer graphics program at the University of Maryland. She also taught at the University of Delaware, Montgomery College of Visual Art and Design, Delaware College of Art & Design, Lincoln University, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian Associates. Michelle René is currently serving as the Chair of the Studio Art Department at Georgetown Day School.
Michelle René’s formal education includes a Master of Fine Art from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Skidmore College. She completed additional studies at Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Corcoran College of Art and Design, the Smithsonian, and United Digital Artists.
Michelle René Cobb’s Graphic Design files have recently been acquired by Stanford University’s Black Graphic Design Artists Initiative at Stanford Libraries, Special Collections for students, faculty, and researchers from Stanford and beyond.
EXHIBITIONS
2022 • IMAGINE: CELEBRATING BLACK FEMALE CREATIVITY: August 7th-September 5, Featherstone Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard
2021 • Harlem Fine Arts Show • Virtual/International
2019 • Harlem Fine Arts Show • Howard University • Washington, DC
2017 • Solo Show – Woman’s National Democratic Club • Washington, DC
2016 • Group Show, Can Serrat, Spain
2015 • Solo Show – Woman’s National Democratic Club • Washington, DC
2015 • Chevy Chase Women’s Club • Chevy Chase, MD
2014 • Georgetown Day School Faculty Show • Washington, DC
2013 • Harlem Fine Arts Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2013 • Chevy Chase Women’s Club • Chevy Chase, MD
2012 • University of Utah AP Readers Studio Art Show • Salt Lake City, Utah
2011 • Montgomery College of Visual Art and Design Faculty Show • Takoma Park, MD
2011 • Women’s National Democratic Club • Washington, DC
2011 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2010 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2009 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2008 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2007 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2008 • Venezuelan Embassy • Washington, DC
2008 • Art for Obama • Washington, DC
2007 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2006 • All Island Art Show • Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2005 • National Black Fine Arts Show • New York, NY
2005 • Edward Loper and His Students •
Orange Street Gallery • Wilmington, DE
2004 • Edward Loper and His Students •
Orange Street Gallery • Wilmington, DE
2004 • White Linen Nights •
Thelma Harris Gallery • Oakland, CA
2001 • Edward Loper and His Students •
River Front Museum • Wilmington, DE
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo
Quebec City, Canada
Les Tapies, France
Umbria, Italy
El Bruc, Spain
Tuscany, Italy
Martha’s Vineyard, MA
