I am Micah Mickles, a mixed-media visual artist in St. Louis, Missouri. My artwork is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and serves as a memorial and monument to counteract the enduring effects of grief and loss. What sets my work apart is the transformative impact of my everyday encounters, inspired by my 14 years of experience working at Trader Joe's. These encounters have led me to reflect on my profound connections with diverse communities. By delving into the hidden narratives of mundane materials encountered in the workplace, I prompt a reexamination of convenience and supply chain origins. Inspired by the iconic artwork of Andy Warhol, my artistic evolution led to a deeper exploration of food as case studies, unraveling stories of history and exploitation. Ultimately, my artwork bridges past and present, drawing from childhood memories of frozen homes and abandoned spaces to evoke themes of nostalgia, time, and memory. My abstract works invite viewers to contemplate the intersection of personal narrative, community connection, and artistic expression in exploring memory and identity.
","abstract_html":"<p>I am Micah Mickles, a mixed-media visual artist in St. Louis, Missouri. My artwork is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and serves as a memorial and monument to counteract the enduring effects of grief and loss. What sets my work apart is the transformative impact of my everyday encounters, inspired by my 14 years of experience working at Trader Joe's. These encounters have led me to reflect on my profound connections with diverse communities. By delving into the hidden narratives of mundane materials encountered in the workplace, I prompt a reexamination of convenience and supply chain origins. Inspired by the iconic artwork of Andy Warhol, my artistic evolution led to a deeper exploration of food as case studies, unraveling stories of history and exploitation. Ultimately, my artwork bridges past and present, drawing from childhood memories of frozen homes and abandoned spaces to evoke themes of nostalgia, time, and memory. My abstract works invite viewers to contemplate the intersection of personal narrative, community connection, and artistic expression in exploring memory and identity.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mickles, Micah"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Art","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Graduate School of Art","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Meghan Kirkwood","Jack Risley","Sage Dawson"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-05-08T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-05-08T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:12:17Z","subjects":["Certainly! 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Here are the 10 most relevant keywords separated by commas: Mixed-media visual art","St. Louis","Missouri","Personal experiences","Grief","Loss","Everyday encounters","Trader Joe's","Diverse communities","Hidden narratives","Memory and identity.","African American Studies","Africana Studies","Art and Design","Art and Materials Conservation","Art Practice","Fiber, Textile, and Weaving Arts","Fine Arts","Graphic Design","Industrial and Product Design","Interdisciplinary Arts and Media","Printmaking","Sculpture"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_visual_art/26"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["I am Micah Mickles, a mixed-media visual artist in St. Louis, Missouri. My artwork is deeply rooted in my personal experiences and serves as a memorial and monument to counteract the enduring effects of grief and loss. What sets my work apart is the transformative impact of my everyday encounters, inspired by my 14 years of experience working at Trader Joe's. These encounters have led me to reflect on my profound connections with diverse communities. By delving into the hidden narratives of mundane materials encountered in the workplace, I prompt a reexamination of convenience and supply chain origins. Inspired by the iconic artwork of Andy Warhol, my artistic evolution led to a deeper exploration of food as case studies, unraveling stories of history and exploitation. Ultimately, my artwork bridges past and present, drawing from childhood memories of frozen homes and abandoned spaces to evoke themes of nostalgia, time, and memory. My abstract works invite viewers to contemplate the intersection of personal narrative, community connection, and artistic expression in exploring memory and identity.
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