FSU Painting & Drawing Area Head and Professor Carrie Ann Baade recently interviewed Michaela Meyer, FSU Art BFA alum (’23). Their conversation is documented below.
What have you been doing since graduation?
I graduated from Florida State University in the spring of 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. Upon graduation, I worked as a scenic artist for a year at Adirondack Studios, a production facility in Orlando that collaborates with entertainment companies across the world. During my time there, I had the opportunity to paint for attractions like Disney, Epic Universe, and Give Kids the World, among others.
In October 2024, I moved to Dallas, Texas for an artist residency through Transform Arts. This program gave me the time and space to create original pieces over the course of nine months, while also providing extensive mentorship across various areas, including a one-on-one pairing with a local artist that is experienced in the field. I was paired with Dawn Waters Baker, a phenomenal landscape oil painter. This program also encourages residents to participate in civic engagement through their art. As a result, I had the privilege of creating a series of oil paintings that went in a transition home for girls aging out of the foster care system. At the final show, I gave an artist talk during the opening alongside the other artist in residence and sold all of the pieces that were exhibited.
After my time at Transform, I was an artist in residence at The Hartley Residence in Aspers, Pennsylvania for two weeks in July 2025. I camped on the land, helped with gardening/farmwork, and painted mock-ups for a current series I’m working on. It was so refreshing to disconnect from technology and be immersed in nature. The staff at the Hartley Residence was extremely welcoming and I felt that I had made lasting connections by the end of my session.
What are your plans for the future?
Now, I am living in New Haven, Connecticut for a year-long painting internship at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, an opportunity recommended to me by Carrie Ann Baade. The program combines six tuition-free courses with a paid work-study position painting sets for their drama productions. Alongside this, I am continuing the series I began at Transform in my personal studio practice.
