MONICA MITCHELL
I am a multimedia and visual artist and music educator. I was born into a family of musicians and artists. My parents met while teaching in a small public school in the mountains of Puerto Rico. My father was the band director, and my mother was the art teacher. The apple did not fall far from the tree. I started violin lessons at the age of six and was drawing well before. My family and I moved all over the eastern United States landing in metro Boston Massachusetts when I was a teenager. I continued with my music education and earned a Bachelor of Music and became a music educator.
Stepping onto the road of becoming a professional visual artist and art educator, I pursued a BFA in Painting and went on to complete my MFA in Interdisciplinary Art. During which time I added sculpture and installation into my practice. I took the resourcefulness I learned as a musician and music educator and applied this discipline to art making.
When not playing violin or working in my art studio, I teach elementary general music in public school. I play classical violin in community orchestras and I am learning how to play different folk fiddle styles. I am represented by Blackfish Gallery in Portland, Oregon. My artwork is in private collections and has been exhibited in various shows in Europe, Massachusetts, and Oregon. I live in Portland, Oregon with my husband and two cats.
