Anna Alexis Michel: A Multidisciplinary Artist Inspiring Change Through Art and Words

Anna Alexis Michel, a multi-talented artist, photographer, and author, has captivated audiences with her creative works that seamlessly blend disciplines and address poignant social themes. From her sunny home in Miami Beach, Florida, Anna has spent years creating, exploring, and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Her journey through art and literature reveals a profound commitment to storytelling, resilience, and advocacy.

Anna Alexis Michel

Speaking from her Miami home, Anna reflects on her artistic beginnings: “The form that appeared to me the most immediately was photography. Photography allows you to express emotions and capture something you see and want to share.” For Anna, photography is more than just a medium—it’s a way to tell stories. “Sometimes I take completely absurd photos that serve as illustrations for stories I’m going to write. All the artistic disciplines I work in respond to and enrich each other.”

This interconnectivity is evident in her projects, where photography often intersects with theater, literature, and social advocacy. Anna recalls staging photo exhibitions in theater lobbies or using images to illustrate collective books. “When I write or create for the theater, photography often serves as a sketch for the words. It captures moments that inspire scenes or characters in my writing.”

Describing her work, Anna shares two contrasting photographic projects. The first, a conceptual series featuring meringues in Sologne, was part of an exhibition addressing social exclusion and female mutilation. “It was important for me to say very serious things in a poetic way,” she explains. The project, showcased at the European Parliament in Brussels, used the fragility and metaphorical power of meringues to provoke discussion on difficult subjects.

In contrast, her ongoing work on water and reflections delves into themes of resilience and transformation. “It’s about how we rebuild ourselves, how we turn weaknesses into strengths. I photograph water, the ripples and reflections, as a way to explore this idea.”

Anna’s photography has graced prestigious platforms like Vogue, a testament to her ability to connect with diverse audiences. “What’s fascinating is that it’s often the most unexpected photos, the ones we think are least aesthetic, that resonate with people. It’s about allowing yourself to be disarmed and questioning what you think you know.”

Beyond photography, Anna’s literary works reflect her deep convictions, particularly regarding women’s rights and social issues. She believes in occupying cultural and public spaces to drive change. “When I write a play or novel, I take a feminine perspective. It’s my lens, but it’s also a deliberate choice to amplify women’s voices.”

Her novel Irma and the Others offers four perspectives on a hurricane’s impact, exploring themes of strength, resilience, and transformation. “The women in the story are each very different in age and social status, but their experiences intersect. Through the chaos of the hurricane, there are revelations and moments of catharsis that wouldn’t happen otherwise.”

In The Decompression Palms, Anna intertwines the stories of two women—one facing a breakup and another confronting a degenerative illness. “As the story unfolds, their paths converge in unexpected ways,” she explains. “It’s always through the eyes of women, but without concessions. My characters are often tortured, and I don’t hold back.”

Anna’s theatrical works, such as Le Peignoir aux Alouettes, also prioritize female narratives. “In that play, there are four female characters and one male character. It’s about occupying space and time with women’s stories.”

Her creative process is deeply rooted in observation and interpretation. “Inspiration comes from what’s around us. Life is so rich if we take the time to look. Hurricanes, for example, come on their own, but it’s the stories of people that fascinate me. I interpret them and give them a universal dimension.”

One particularly striking project is The Church of the Holy Meringue, which uses the meringue as a metaphor to discuss women’s rights and societal issues. “The meringue is fragile yet powerful. It allowed us to address difficult topics like the image of women in religion and the rights of children, especially girls, in a way that was soft yet impactful.”

Anna approaches these heavy themes with a blend of elegance and ferocious humor. “French is such a rich language, allowing for wordplay and layers of meaning. I love playing with language, but always with the reader in mind. A book or play is for the audience, not for me.”

Nostalgia and memory play a central role in her collages and photographic projects. “In a world where everything feels transient, our true wealth is what’s inside us. I capture little moments of happiness, glances, and treasures that we can carry with us. These are our lifelines, our little balls of light through existence.”

Anna’s work is a testament to the power of art to provoke thought, inspire change, and connect us to our shared humanity. Whether through her photographs, novels, or theatrical productions, she continues to explore the depths of human experience with grace, wit, and unwavering dedication.