About
D.C.-area-based artist Michelle Goldchain’s themes—like her mediums—vary. From the political to the psychological to the eccentric, Michelle’s paintings, installations, and graphic design projects touch a myriad of topics, colors, and textures. Through her works, she dares to express her more playful side through vibrant colors and textures as well as her darker side through less pleasant themes, such as serial killers and cigarette usage.
Her artworks have been showcased in California's Museum of International Propaganda, New York's Rochester Contemporary Art Center and Grady Alexis Gallery, and Washington, D.C.'s Rhizome Gallery, Fondo Del Sol Visual Arts Center, and Pepco Edison Place Gallery. Her illustrations have also been published in Curbed, Racked, 730DC, Hello Giggles, the Summerhouse digital zine, and issue six of Rat World Magazine.
To further express her love for how fun and fantastic the art world can be, she serves as a co-creator, writer, and host for the comedy YouTube show, Artsplained. Videos range from discussing art censorship to how one artist was able to argue that a urinal can be art.
Michelle is also a working writer with bylines in Vox, Racked, Recode, Curbed, Eater DC, Education Week, Washington City Paper, Washingtonian Magazine, Washington Business Journal, DCist, Greater Greater Washington, DC Refined, Whurk Magazine, and Tagg Magazine, among others.
In April of 2019, her first book was published by Arcadia Publishing as a historical guide to the most notable sites near every Metro station in the D.C. area.
Michelle has been a guest on WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show, SiriusXM's Jennifer Hammond Show, and the "You, Me, Them, Everybody" podcast.
To stay up-to-date on her art, be sure to follow her Facebook page or Instagram.
To contact her, email goldchainam@gmail.com.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Longwood University - English major, Art minor
2010 - 2014
Publication
“D.C. by Metro: A History & Guide”
Arcadia Publishing: Published April 2019
This ultimate guide to the most notable historic sites in and around Washington is perfect for transit-oriented tourists and residents alike.
Experience
WTOP Radio Station
Social Media & Video Editor: June 2022 - Present
• Create engaging social media posts and shoot/edit videos for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms
Washington City Paper
Audience Growth & Engagement Editor: June 2021 - May 2022
• Manage and increase followers for social media channels
• Live-tweet D.C. Council public hearings
• Produce bi-weekly City Lights newsletter in partnership with the Arts Editor
• Contribute reporting on local news
Artsplained
Creator, host, co-writer: March 2018 - Present
• Write, research, and perform scripts focused on art news and artist profiles
City of Alexandria, Virginia
Freelance Event Photographer: July 2019 - Present
• Photograph monthly events at City of Alexandria's events at the Torpedo Factory Art Center
• Edit photos through Adobe Lightroom
Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants
Social Media Manager & Photographer/Videographer: February 2020 - May 2021
• Created and managed social media content calendar for five accounts: Fiola D.C., Fiola Mare, Del Mar, Sfoglina, and Fabio at Home
• Increased followers across all five accounts by a total of 20.47% over the course of my first year
• Created photography and video assets, while utilizing Adobe products
Education Week
Web Producer (Temporary): April 2019 - July 2019
Editorial Intern: Dec 2018 - March 2019
• Reported on education technology in the K-12 education market
• Produced e-newsletters and articles on edweek.org
• Managed social media accounts, including Twitter and Facebook
Capital Women
Founder: Sep 2017 - March 2019
• Created a bi-monthly newsletter focused on local women empowerment (https://www.capitalwomen.news/past-issues)
• Accomplished a steady growth of followers through social media, newsletter marketing, and promotion at events (1,400+ subscribers)
On Tap Magazine
Freelance Photographer: Aug 2014 - Jan 2019
• Photographed food-, beer-, and wine-related events in the D.C. area
• Edited photos using Adobe Photoshop
Washington Business Journal
Social Media Producer (Temporary): Sep 2018 - Oct 2018
• Promoted annual Women Who Mean Business publication and event by creating social media content
Vox Media
Editor of Curbed DC: Oct 2014 - April 2018
• Reported on real-estate and development in D.C. (at least five articles/day)
• Increased pageviews by 12.64 percent year-over-year in first year (comparing Oct. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2015 from Oct. 1, 2015 to Sept. 30, 2016)
• Increased Facebook likes by 103.36 percent from Nov. '14 to Nov. '16
• Increased Twitter followers by 94.36 percent from Dec. '15 to Dec. '16
• Collaborated with team members to create graphic design works
Luri & Wilma
Copy Editor: June 2014 - June 2015
Editorial Intern: June 2012 - June 2014
• Copy-edit manuscripts to ensure correct grammar, punctuation usage, and facts
• Research and report on eco-friendly businesses, events, and individuals
Whurk Magazine
Fairfax Editor: Dec 2014 - April 2015
• Report on artists, musicians, and local businesses (at least one article/month)
SNAP. Magazine
Founder: Dec 2014 - April 2015
• Report on artists, musicians, and local businesses in the D.C. area
• Take photos and edit them using Adobe Photoshop
• Design a seasonal magazine using Adobe InDesign
Digital Promise
Communications Intern: June 2014 - Aug 2014
• Researched and presented data using spreadsheets
• Compiled relevant press clips for company to maintain awareness on relevant news events
• Transcribed and edited video interviews
Information Security at Longwood University
Content Strategist: Oct 2013 - May 2014
• Designed brochures and posters
• Detail-oriented office work, including data entry and filing
The Rotunda
News Editor: Apr 2013 - Apr 2014
Features Editor: Apr 2012 - Apr 2013
Assistant Copy Editor: Apr 2011 - Apr 2012
• Reported on local and campus events (at least four 700+ word articles/week)
• Copy-edited articles to ensure correct grammar, punctuation usage, and facts
WMLU 91.3 FM
General Manager: Apr 2013 - Apr 2014
News Director: Apr 2012 - Apr 2013
Disc Jockey: 2011 - 2014
• Managed 35 members, 10 executive members, and 7 committees
J Fergeson Gallery
Intern: Feb 2013 - Aug 2013
• Photographed and cataloged art collection to website
• Organized art gallery displays and hung up artworks
• Managed monetary transactions
Fondo del Sol Visual Arts Center
Intern: June 2012 - Aug 2012
• Oversaw visitor services and museum shop
• Tracked and managed e-mails, phone calls, and museum documents
• Reported to museum director for detail-oriented office needs
Exhibitions
March 2023
Shop Made in DC’s SHE:DC art show
Washington, D.C.
October 2022
BlackRock Center for the Arts’s Estamos Aqui
Germantown, MD
May 2020
The Athenaeum’s Doodles of These Times
Alexandria, VA
March 2019
Torpedo Factory Art Center Target Gallery’s March150: 9th Annual Special Exhibition
Alexandria, VA
April 2018
BloomBars’ ImPrint
Washington, D.C.
November 2017
Blind Whino's Best of IGDC Exhibition
Washington, D.C.
July 2017
Gallery O on H's Who's Looking Back?
Washington, D.C.
June 2017
Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center's Pray 4 'Ye
Washington, D.C.
June 2017
Rochester Contemporary Art Center's 6x6x2017
Rochester, NY
May 2017
Verum Ultimum's 4th Annual Living Mark
Portland, Oregon
May 2017
Grady Alexis Gallery's Radical Resistance to Xenophobia
New York, NY
April 2017
Museum of International Propaganda's Against TRUMPISM
San Rafael, CA
March 2017
East City Art's EMULSION
Washington, D.C.
December 2016
Rhizome's Hugo Ball: A Dada Centennial Soiree
Washington, D.C.
November 2016
Arlington Cultural Affair's "How To" Video Festival
Arlington, VA
April 2016
Art Soiree's eARTh Day at The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown
Washington, D.C.
February 2015
Laser Cat Art Show
Washington, D.C.
August 2012
Fondo del Sol Visual Arts Center's Member Arts Show
Washington, D.C.
May 2012
Longwood University's Student Art Show
Farmville, VA
Honors & Awards
April 2013, CHI Commendation
CHI is a secret society comprised of students of Longwood University. It was founded on October 15, 1900 and represents the Spirit of Longwood with values including loyalty, character, respect, and challenge. At the end of every school year, the members of Chi of that year reveal themselves to the general public and commend a small number of individuals on campus for their service.
My CHI commendation states, "For your fierce dedication to the Longwood Rotunda, for uniting the Longwood community through the telling of the blue-and-white story, and for embodying the Longwood spirit through your kind-hearted nature, CHI 2013 commends junior Michelle Goldchain."
April 2013 and April 2012, Mary Clay Hiner Scholarship
Awarded to one nominated student in the English Department of Longwood University who is recognized for excellent academic ability and who has made contributions to the life of the English Department
April 2012, Lucille Walton Scholarship
Awarded to one student in the Art Department of Longwood University who is recognized for outstanding artistic and academic ability and who has made contributions to the life of the Art Department.