Biography

Michelle Sepúlveda is a Chicana Queer artist, educator, and cultural worker based in Colorado whose practice is rooted in curiosity, ancestral knowledge, and community healing. Born and raised in Brighton and Fort Lupton, she is a first-generation college graduate whose creative work is deeply informed by family stories, cultural traditions, and a lifelong commitment to art as a tool for connection, reflection, and liberation.

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Working across paper mâché, fiber, weaving, mixed media, intuitive collage, mural painting, installation, and participatory workshops, Sepúlveda creates immersive, tactile experiences that invite play, storytelling, and collective meaning-making. Her process is intuitive and meditative, often beginning with ritual, dialogue, and hands-on exploration. She approaches art as a living practice—honoring inner-child curiosity while holding space for identity exploration, grief, joy, and transformation.

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Her work frequently centers cultural symbols and communal traditions, including Ojos de Dios and Día de los Muertos altar installations, which she views as portals for remembrance, resilience, and intergenerational dialogue. She has collaborated on large-scale paper mâché Día de los Muertos installations with the Cal Duran Team Corazón, contributing to visually dynamic works that celebrate cultural continuity and collective labor. Her work has been featured in the Community Spotlight at the Denver Art Museum, recognizing her commitment to accessible, community-centered art.

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A core component of Sepúlveda’s practice involves collaborative murals and community projects, particularly with youth. She designs inclusive experiences that encourage participants to explore identity, cultural heritage, and personal storytelling while developing creative confidence and social-emotional skills. Additionally with her Business Curioso Cats Arts and Crafts LLC, she partners with cat shelters and cat cafés to facilitate playful, cat-themed craft workshops that serve as fundraisers, blending joy, creativity, and care.

These projects activate shared spaces, strengthen community connections, support local causes, and amplify underrepresented voices—especially within BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities—while fostering belonging, pride, and creative agency.