I am an artist, muralist, and scientific illustrator guided by collaborative storytelling and our connection to the natural world. My background in field research and science communication grounds my creative work in attention, observation, and inquiry. As a devoted naturalist, my process begins the moment I catch a rare glimpse into a vernal pool or hear the competing calls of owls at night. Finding great community in shared curiosity, I ponder themes of connection, access, advocacy, and the intersection of science and art. Cultivating safe spaces in which others can express their own connections to the natural world, to the themselves, and to each other is endlessly fueling. I explore what, in nature, is capturing our attention and what, in us, is looking back.
As my practice evolves, I continue to expand into new media, collaborations, and public projects that advocate for environmental and social justice through the collective liberation of all human and more-than-human communities.
REACH OUT ANYTIME
cathrynbmichel@gmail.com
Education
2017 - Bachelor of Science - Animal Science, CA Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Residencies & Awards
2024-2027
Fireline Fellow, 2026 LTER Residency Juror, OSU/PRAx, OR
2025
Artist-in-Residence, 2026 Juror, PlatteForum, Denver, CO
Boulder Arts Keep it Clean Partnership Student Art Contest, Juror, Boulder CO
2024
Emerging Artist-in-Residence, Art District on Santa Fe, Denver CO
2023
Sharon Prize Winner, 2024 Juror, The Sharon Prize, CO
Artist-in-Residence, 2025 Juror, Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture, OR
Murals & Installations
2026
Arvada Center: Tilting West, Arvada CO
2025
Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership, Denver CO
Denver Parks and Recreation X HCA HealthONE, Denver CO
Olde Town Hot Springs, Steamboat Springs, CO
Private Residence, Denver CO
2024
Arvada Arts and Culture Commission, Arvada CO
Street Wise Arts Mural Festival, Boulder CO
Olde Town Shindig Mural Festival, Arvada CO
Adams County Arts and Culture Commission X Babe Walls, Brighton CO
Art Gym Denver, Denver CO
2023
Museum of Outdoor Arts X Fiddlers Greens Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village CO
Private Residence, Santa Fe NM
Teaching & Engagements
2026
Denver Public Schools, Grades 6-8, SciArt Teacher, Denver CO
American Society of Botanical Artists, Annual Conference, Instructor, Denver CO
Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Illustration, Instructor, Denver CO
CO Native Plant Society, Phenology Walk Co-Lead, Denver CO
GRiT Science Illustration, Instructor, Broomfield CO
2025
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, SciComm Conference, Speaker, Bridgewater MA
Society for Ecological Restoration, 11th World Conference, Speaker, Denver CO
Denver Botanic Gardens School of Botanical Illustration, Instructor, Denver CO
GRiT Science Illustration, Instructor, Broomfield CO
2024
Butterfly Pavilion, Science Illustration Teacher, Westminster, CO
Exhibitions
2026
Re-Inhabiting Conservation group show, Goggleworks Center for the Arts, PA
CU Natural History Museum print exchange, Bolder CO
eco-conspiracies group show, CO
To Persevere or Surrender group show, Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, CO
Shared Vision group show, SeeSaw Gallery, CO
2025
Nature Heals group show, Habitat Library, CO
Botanical Art group show, Silverthorne Art Board, CO
Volunteers for Outdoor CO solo show, CO
Art that Matters to the Planet group show, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, NY
Birds of the Rocky Mountain Region group show, Brinton Museum, WY
Celestial Dreams group show, Valkarie Gallery, CO
Babe Walls Womxn’s History Month group show, Truss House, CO
Silver & Salt group show, Valhall Arts, CO
2024
SEED group show, BRDG Project, CO
Eloise May Library solo show, CO
Art Gym Denver Leyden Jar solo show, CO
House of Medusa group show, 40 West Arts, CO
41st Annual All CO Art Show, Curtis Center for the Arts
Smoky Hill Library solo show, CO
Animals in Art, Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, LA
MEMORIA solo show, Bell Projects, CO
MoPrint group show, Niza Knoll Gallery, CO
Illustration & Design Clients
2026
MAD! Agriculture; JollyThunder; Brill Publishing; National Science Foundation X Cal Poly; Denver Mountain Parks Foundation; Oregon State University: City Park Farmers Market
2025
Santa Cruz Mountains Bioregional Council; Brill Publishing; Santa Fe Botanical Garden
2024
ECOS X The Nature Conservancy; Creek Lands Conservation
2023
NPR X Boise State Public Radio; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Pacific Wildlife Care; Alexandre Family Farm; CA State Parks
2022
Tree Care for Birds
2021
Ocean Exploration Trust X Nautilus Live; Morro Bay National Estuary Program
2020
National Marine Sanctuaries X NOAA; CA State Parks
Science Communication & Research
2026
HawkWatch International, Volunteer, Morrison CO
2018+ Cuesta College, Research and Teaching Assistant, Bahía de los Ángeles, Baja California, Mexico
2024
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Bird Banding Volunteer, Brighton CO
2022
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Conservation Associate, San Francisco CA
2020
Greater Farallones Association X NOAA, Marine Science Instructor, San Francisco CA
California Academy of Sciences, Invertebrate Zoology Volunteer, San Francisco CA
2019
The Marine Science Institute, Marine Science Educator, Redwood City CA
2018
Morro Bay National Estuary Program, Communications and Outreach Intern, Morro Bay CA
Tenera Environmental, Research and Communications Assistant, San Luis Obispo CA
The Marine Mammal Center, Rescue and Response Intern, Morro Bay CA
2017
Oregon Sea Grant X Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, Summer Scholar, Bandon OR
Ecologistics, Inc., Board Member and Event Coordinator, San Luis Obispo CA
Biodiversity First!, Research and Environmental Law Intern, San Luis Obispo CA