Michelle Nixon is a watercolor artist whose work explores both the social and aesthetic beauty of humanity. She approaches watercolor not as a means of capturing perfect realism, but as a way to express the feeling—the impression—of a moment. Her paintings reflect her belief that watercolor’s fast, responsive nature mirrors life itself: preparation gives way to trust, and each brushstroke becomes a record of presence. In her plein air landscapes, cityscapes, and figurative works, Nixon emphasizes human connection—the spaces between people and subjects that give a composition its depth and emotion.

 

Nixon earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art with a double major in Sociology from Brigham Young University and later completed a master’s degree in the Sociology of Aesthetics. Her paintings have been featured in national and international juried exhibitions, including the National Watercolor Society (NWS) International Exhibition from 2022 through 2025, where she received a top award in 2022. In 2025, she received an American Watercolor Society award, Best of Show in Utah’s largest plein air event, Best of Show in the Utah Watercolor Society’s Spring Exhibition, a Juror’s Award in Utah’s Statewide Annual Exhibition, and an Honorable Mention at the Springville Museum of Art.