Pueblo, CO
(b. 1973, Massachusetts)

Michelle Lopez was born in Massachusetts and spent her childhood moving throughout the East Coast, Spain, and South America. After living in Colombia for 20 years, she relocated to Colorado in 2022 to be closer to family.

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Florida Atlantic University, initially focusing on still lifes, the female figure, and oil painting. Her artistic path shifted when she discovered picture books through her children, leading her to work as an illustrator—an influence that continues to shape her style today.

Michelle primarily paints in watercolors, acrylics, and conte crayon on wood laminate. While in Colombia, she became captivated by the region’s birds and began painting their striking forms. Since moving to Colorado, she has expanded  her work to include local wildlife such as bears and mountain scenes, embracing the natural world after years of city life.

She has illustrated numerous books, including Kumico by Rosa Adriana Buriticá, El Reino de Mar by Paloma Orozco Amorós, and Sankac, El Adivino by Nora Carbonell.