Bio

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

She earned a BFA in Ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA in Multimedia Art, Ceramics, and Sculpture 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 of her awards include an Urban Culture Project Studio Residency through the Charlotte Street Foundation, an ArtsKC Inspiration Grant, and a Distinguished Humanities Faculty Award. She has taught studio art for 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. She is currently Assistant Teaching Professor and Fine Art Program Coordinator at Park University.