Bio

Elaina Michalski (née B. Elaina Wendt) works primarily with clay to create figurative sculptures of women, children, and youth. In works ranging from small fired pieces to life-size unfired clay installations in public spaces, she explores ideas about spirituality, family relationships, and vulnerable people. As a Kansas City native, growing up in the “City of Fountains” has influenced her work by the many figurative artworks and architectural elements of these places.

She earned a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA in Multimedia Art from the University of Florida. Her sculptures have been featured in Lark Books’ The Figure in Clay and 500 Figures in Clay Volume II. Some awards include a 6-week funded residency at Eureka Springs School of the Arts, an Urban Culture Project Studio Residency through the Charlotte Street Foundation, an ArtsKC Inspiration Grant, and a Park University Distinguished Humanities Faculty Award. She has taught studio art for Park University, Metropolitan Community College, Rockhurst University, Kansas City Art Institute, Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts high school, MyARTS Program, and other non-profit organizations. She lives with her husband and children in the Kansas City area and creates work out of her home studio/workshop.