Mikaela Shafer is a mother, artist, and community builder based in Olympia, Washington. Her artistic journey centers on themes of memory, healing from grief, and reconnection through the mediums of art and poetry. Using unconventional techniques and materials, her work reflects a balance of chaos and calm, inviting viewers to discover their own stories within each piece. An abstract expressionist, she blends sewing, painting, weaving, and occasionally beading, often incorporating natural pigments and found items, to create emotionally charged and evocative works.
Currently, Mikaela is focused on an ongoing project centered on matrilineal storytelling, rooted in her journey of cultural reconnection and fostering generational healing. This series of mixed media paintings incorporates sewn elements and plein air landscapes that evoke her sense of home or meaningful places. The works symbolize the stories of women in matriarchal cultures and their deep bonds to the land, emphasizing the importance of collective and generational healing.
Mikaela’s artwork has received notable recognition, including a blue ribbon from the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation LIFT award, and, most recently, the Artist Trust Innovator Award. Beyond her artistic practice, Mikaela actively engages in community efforts, including mutual aid and cultural initiatives. She is the lead storyteller for yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective and founder of Maqa Collective, organizations dedicated to supporting artists and promoting storytelling through community engagement. Her work continues to serve as a bridge between personal, cultural, and collective healing.