about Michelle

this is Her story

 

“I realised that it’s always been small moments, something often overlooked, a hand, a shadow, one persons expression amongst many.

I wanted to isolate those small details and get even closer, perhaps because for so long, I wasn’t able to connect and walk around and be close to strangers.”

 

Michelle has always had a fascination with anthropology, especially how we as a society behave around strangers in those moments when we briefly let our guard down. She attempts to capture moments of raw emotion that she connects with and in doing so hopes to incite connection and emotion within the viewer too. 

 

FEATURED In

Featured
Collected by RAWDAO

The RAW DAO recently collected From The Other Side #12 & #13

Top 10 photography collections

Top 10 photography collections that created the most value for their devoted patrons. Michelle’s collection “From The Other Side” is listed at #9.

Hagia Gallery

Group Show at HAGIA Gallery in Turkey
Featuring “A State of Otherness: Breathe” - SuperRare.

Barnard Gallery

“Hopes and Dreams” Group show at the prestigious Barnard Gallery in Cape Town.

THE HISTORY

15+ years
behind the lens

 
 

Michelle Viljoen is a Cape Town born photographer and creative director with over 12 years of experience. Having cut her teeth on branding and photography campaigns for global brands, she currently focuses on creative direction as the principal of Studio Collective, a global design firm she founded in 2017.

After studying fine arts and graphic design she journeyed into the world of fashion photography. 

Over the last few years, Michelle has developed a passion for street photography, accumulating a body of work that focuses on documenting the quiet and often unnoticed moments of quotidian life in big cities around the world. 

 
 
 
 
 

Michelle is a founding member of The RAW DAO which has been incubated by Fingerprints DAO, she served as a member of the RAW Curation Committee, as well as on the NFT Photographers Curation Committee. She is also a core contributor at Obscura. 

Most recently Michelle has founded LensClub Magazine, and LensClub Radio, a resource for all things related to NFT Photography.

 
 

Words from collectors

Featured
FTOS #15, 14, 10
FTOS #15, 14, 10

“Michelle’s project, “From The Other Side” is an important 2021 NFT photography series. I found the project to be very focused and unique, it really spoke to my soul, caught my eye, and touched me deeply.

I love the raw and realness she is able to capture in the human nature. The state of “otherness” that Michelle eloquently describes, a state of “flow state” or deep thought or thinking – is something we all go through.

Michelle is helping to build a legacy of images that will only become more precious over time, as we all know that time is our greatest gift.

- Kinny.eth | Collected on Opensea

FTOS #9
FTOS #9

“I was instantly drawn to Michelle’s street photos. Her work is intimate, raw & pure. Like no other she uses reflections, transparency, and layered framing to capture transient moments of people navigating the urban jungle.”

- 0xRodo | Collected on Opensea

Through Time
Through Time

“Michelle is a legendary street photographer and a Web3 superstar. She is paving the way for art to be collected and appreciated in a brand new ecosystem. The process of getting to know her prior to collecting enhanced my experience. I like her, LOVE HER ART, and trust her completely. I feel honored to be a custodian of her work.”

- AlphaTrilogy | Collected on SuperRare

BEAUTIFUL
BEAUTIFUL

“Michelle is one of my favourite photographers and her pieces are consistently mentioned as stand-outs when I share my collection with friends, fellow collectors and photographers”

- Studio137 | Collected on Foundation

The Last Stop
The Last Stop

“Michelle is one of the best street photographers out there, and I am thrilled to have one of her 1/1s in my collection. She captures moments of humanity in such a beautiful and emotional way”

- Batsoupyum | Collected on SuperRare

 

HIDDEN STORIES: CHAPTER ONE - SIGHT OF HAND

VIEW COLLECTION