Mickayel Thurin

Mickayel Thurin is a Haitian American artist born in 1987 in Newport News, VA. Her family moved frequently so she grew up in NY, VA and MI. She eventually landed in Philadelphia, PA to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) where she studied painting.

Thurin's chief influences have consistently been expressive color, pattern and texture. She is interested in artists such as: Soutine, Bonnard, Alice Neel, Willem de Kooning, Mitzi Melnicoff, Lissy Funk and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The majority of her works tend to be colorful, expressive, abstracted portraiture done with mixed media. They often contain embroidery and collage.

At PAFA, Thurin studied under the likes of Jan Batzell, Bill Scott, Michael Gallagher and others. She also met her now-husband and fellow painter, Benjamin Passione, who also exhibits at Gross McCleaf. The two reside in Philadelphia where they share an art studio and their son, Maurice, who is often featured in Thurin's paintings.