About Michelle
Michelle Brits is a South African artist based in Hong Kong, working primarily in watercolour and gouache. Her practice explores the interplay of light, colour, and form, translating the vibrant energy of her surroundings into fluid, expressive compositions.
Brits’s professional background in the interiors industry deeply informs her artistic process. This expertise allows her to create work that is not only visually compelling but also acutely aware of its presence within a space.
Her paintings negotiate the line between abstraction and representation, inviting viewers to find emotion and atmosphere in the flow of
pigment and water.
She has participated in numerous exhibitions. Brits’s work is held in private collections across Asia, Europe, and North America.
- She is currently exploring urban archaeology - visual signals embedded in our everyday noise via street-level ephemera.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is a conversation between control and chance, guided by the fluid nature of watercolour and the tactile presence of gouache.
I am fascinated by the behaviour of pigment and water—how it pools, bleeds, and granulates to create its own unique geography. I initiate each piece but ultimately collaborate with the medium, embracing its unpredictability to capture a sense of serene movement and atmospheric light.
Drawing inspiration from my professional background in interiors, my paintings explore the emotional resonance of space. I am less interested in a literal depiction of a place than I am in translating its feeling—the way light falls in a quiet room, the memory of colour in a market, or the architectural harmony of a cityscape.
My process of layering transparent washes and defining details with opaque marks mirrors the way we layer memories and experiences to form a sense of belonging.
The resulting works are visual echoes of moments, intended to become a focal point of contemplation and calm within a living space.
