Michelle Repiso

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Northern Virginia, my background includes both Hispanic and Spanish heritage. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography in 2000 from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, D.C., receiving a Dean’s Merit Scholarship and the Senior Photography Faculty Award for my 16mm film thesis. My work blends photography and film, using light, shadow, and motion to capture moments that linger between presence and absence.

In 2005, I became the chief staff photographer at The Washington Post Express, an opportunity that allowed me to cover a wide range of assignments both in the studio and on location. In 2007, I relocated to New York to pursue my photography career, working with various commercial clients as a portrait, documentary, and still-life photographer.

Teaching gradually became central to my art and photography practice, inspiring new approaches and deepening my creative vision. I have taught with several organizations, including The Pablove Foundation and the International Center of Photography (ICP) Teen Academy. In 2016, I created Create & Connect, an art program designed to provide incarcerated men, women, and late adolescents with a creative process grounded in hands-on art projects that help maintain communication with loved ones. Regardless of skill level, participants are encouraged to express ideas and engage with one another productively at Rikers Island and juvenile detention centers.

In May 2024, I was granted the opportunity to bring SLR cameras into Rikers Island and launch a photography class that teaches technical camera operation, artist-statement writing, and a range of creative techniques. The program expands participants’ sense of possibility by providing concrete skills that can support them after release. Through sustained creative practice, they uncover hidden talents and interests, nurturing a renewed sense of confidence in their futures and their roles within their communities.

I am a certified M/WBE business based in New York City, working in both analog and digital formats while actively exhibiting my work and collaborating with other artists.