Michele Riche is a Connecticut-based figurative painter whose work navigates the intricate terrain of identity, memory, and self-reflection. Working primarily in oil on canvas, Riche transforms personal experiences—often exploring her relationship with her dog and its shadow—into compositions that balance realism with abstraction. Through unusual cropping, expressive brushwork, and areas of intentional ambiguity, she uncovers hidden dualities and layers of meaning, inviting viewers to engage with both the familiar and the mysterious. Her series of bathers explores presence, absence, and rebirth, reflecting on womanhood, personal history, and the passage of time. At the same time, her floral studies capture fleeting gestures and the subtleties of relationships. Painting, for Riche, is a meditative process—a way to confront feelings of loss, isolation, and connection while examining the deeper uncertainties of life. Riche received her BFA from St. Lawrence University and continued her studies in New York City at institutions including The School of Visual Arts. Since leaving a career in non-profit development to pursue painting full-time in 2018, she has exhibited widely, including a solo exhibition and Best in Show recognition at the Mattatuck Museum, and was named a Spotlight Artist at Artexpo New York in 2021. Collectors are drawn to Riche’s work for its emotional resonance, painterly skill, and the way each piece invites contemplation and personal reflection, leaving a profound and memorable impression.