Michela Cortese is a pastel artist who divides her time between Cornwall and Italy. Alongside her practice, she is a lecturer in Screenwriting at Falmouth University and co-founder of OutWrd Productions.
Michela’s background in the arts began through photography in 2009. Over the years, her passion for photography and cinema has evolved into a wider exploration of fine art practices, particularly oil and soft pastel painting.
Today, the use of rich pigment through soft pastel sits at the centre of Michela’s work. Her landscapes are built through careful layering of high-quality dry pigments sourced from Colorado, Minnesota, New York, France and England.
Amongst Michela’s career highlights, her work received a Special Mention from the organisers of the prestigious Biennale Milano Art Expo and the Italian Academy of Fine Arts, recognising her contribution to the European art scene. Her work was subsequently featured in the official Biennale Milano publication in 2026.
Michela’s primary subjects are the English countryside, gardens and woodlands, with a particular focus on the Cornish landscape. These atmospheric works are shaped through the use of intense darks, allowing the magical qualities of light to emerge within each scene.
Soft Pastel on Pastelgrain Paper
Artwork: 21 x 21 cm
Framed with paper mount, tulipier wood frame, UV70 anti-reflective museum glass: 33,5 x 33,5 cm