bold gold & old
Michelle Dumas

artist bio
Michelle Dumas is the shimmer behind the bedazzled work of bold gold & old.  She's always been creative at heart, but invented her unique medium during the depths of the pandemic while raising two small children.  Her method is a mix of upcycling and craft; she sources existing art as her canvas and reimagines it in a maximalist style with sequins, sometimes paint, and vintage ephemera. Each piece is one of a kind and is the product of hours of meticulous hand-placed sequins, which is a labor of love and relaxation for her as a mother and full time Interior Designer.  She's inspired by vintage textiles and decor, pattern on pattern on pattern on pattern, traditional tattoos, and those who push the boundaries of what is expected in everyday life and art.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design and minor in Studio Art from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.  Bold gold & old has displayed their works at shops and restaurants across the north shore as well as art galleries, including The Copley Society on Newbury Street in Boston and Blue Triangle Gallery in Chinatown and Union Square.  She's based in Salem, Massachusetts and has a vendor booth at the brick and mortar Salem Flea Marketplace but also pops up at local vintage and art markets in the greater Boston area.  She's a proud member of the Gallows Hill Artists of Salem, Massachusetts where her studio is located.

artist statement
bold gold & old is my non-traditional way of contributing art to the world that is a nod to the past and that will shine bright into the future.  I'm obsessed with scouring the thrifts, yard sales, estate sales, and sometimes the trash for an old, forgotten piece of art that's begging for a makeover.  Each piece is reimagined by carefully hand placing sequins to accentuate and abstract the subject matter, allowing the shine to take over and wake it up again.  I am a maximalist at heart and love the juxtaposition of old vs. new; the kitschy, sparkling sequins are constantly and dramatically changing in light, while the unexpected texture of them add a punch of color and personality that shakes off the years of dust collected on most of these pieces.  Saving art from a landfill and breathing new life into art for someone else to love is something that gives me so much joy, along with seeing people's faces light up when they are able to experience them for the first time in person.

Michelle Dumas

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