Michelle Sigley is a Whanganui-based artist working across a range of fine art mediums, large-scale murals and ceramics. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Michelle brings a lifelong passion for creativity to a practice that is as diverse as it is energetic.
Her paintings celebrate the beauty, character and stories found in everyday life. Using bold, expressive brushstrokes, rich textures and a loose, impressionistic approach, she captures moments, people, animals, New Zealand landscapes and native wildlife. Her work often combines traditional painting techniques with a contemporary, sometimes whimsical perspective, finding beauty in the ordinary and character in the unexpected.
Beyond the studio, Michelle is passionate about bringing art into public spaces and making creativity accessible to everyone. Through her community mural projects, she has transformed walls, fences and public spaces across Whanganui, using colour, storytelling and community involvement to create places people can connect with and feel proud of.
Some of her mural projects include Whanganui’s historic Waimarie murals, airport water tanks, Handley Park, Whanganui Hospital, Project Castlecliff and Lundon Park, Fox Road retaining wall, Whanganui Skating Rink, Broadview fence, Dempsey and Forrest, the Balgownie Avenue cycleway, Churton School, Faith City School, Hato Hone Hospice Shop, Oceanview speedway, Whanganui river fisherman mural, Cemetery Circuit, community spaces in Gonville and various local schools, businesses and organisations.
Many of these projects involve local schools, children and community groups with opportunities for tamariki to contribute their own ideas and artwork. From youth workshops and collaborative designs to murals celebrating local history, native flora and fauna, and community identity, Michelle believes public art should be about more than decorating a wall.
She also dedicates proceeds from her artwork, alongside community donations and fundraising, towards making these projects happen, often independently funding the preparation and materials needed to bring them to life.
Whether she’s working on a large canvas, a community wall or a slightly mischievous piece of pottery, Michelle’s philosophy remains the same: art should make people feel something, bring a little joy and never take itself too seriously.
Under the name The Flawsome Artist, Michelle embraces the imperfect, the unexpected and the wonderfully quirky side of creativity.
You can see my work at
Eightyeight Putiki
