Michelle
La Neve was born and raised in Middletown, New Jersey, where she began painting
lessons at an early age. Michelle received several awards and accolades as
a teenager. She won the prestigious Congressional Art Competition in which
her artwork was displayed at the White House, she attended the Governor's
School for the Arts at Trenton State College, received a New Jersey Senate
Resolution, and was awarded several college scholarships for art.
Michelle graduated with
honors from Boston University with a major in Painting and a minor in Art
History. At BU, she got a chance to study with contemporary famous artists
such as Graham Nickson, Suzanna Coffey, Alred Leslie and John Walker. After
college, La Neve received her degree in art education from Kean
University and taught Art at Francis High School in Staten
Island, NY, where she was nominated for the annual "Who's Who Among American
Teachers" book. During her summer breaks, Michelle became involved in
the community. She co-founded, along with Linda Paras of the National Alliance
for Excellence, the smARTSart program in Red Bank, New Jersey. This program,
made possible by a grant from GPU Energy, allowed underprivileged children
to receive free art lessons under La Neve's instruction.
During her years of
teaching, La Neve slowly began building her business, Wall Wishes. Wall Wishes
encompasses many of her talents, combining her Fine Arts education background,
her natural keen eye for color and design, and her ability to create beautiful
faux finishes, as well as her instinctive ability to understand each client's
personal style and vision. She creates each wall or canvas with great attention
to detail and takes tremendous pride in her work.
Her art can be seen
publicly at the Kensington Gate model home (Clarksburg, NJ) Somerset Meadows
model home (Dover Township, NJ), Mulberry Street Eatery (Brick, NJ), Evelyn's
Restaurant (New Brunswick, NJ), & Clydz Restaraunt (New Brunswick, NJ).
Her biggest public project was on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, NJ during
the summer of 2003, where she was commissioned by Asbury Partners to paint
on the empty buildings as part of the reconstruction plan for the city. The
mural depicts a vision for the new Asbury Park. It includes faux restaurants,
bars, and storefronts, with shoppers and passersby who seem to be enjoying
their day on the shore. One of the bars, appropriately named "Glory Days"
was meant to be a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, who got his big break at the
legendary Stone Pony, just across the street. The "bouncer" in the
faux doorway resembles saxophonist, Clarence Clemons. Locals and tourist were
excited to see life in the town, once considered a ghost town depicted in
the movie "City by the Sea". La Neve says, " I am honored that
my artwork could be used, not only to enhance the appearance of a place, but
to help rebuild a community. That is a great accomplishment."