Mickayel Thurin is a Haitian American artist whose work is rooted in her journey to better understand the human experience. The subject matter chosen is deeply personal and often includes themes of trauma, relationships, emotional well-being, and spirituality. In addition to her art practice, Thurin is the Founder and Executive Director of Seen Heard Connected, a nonprofit organization that offers financial assistance and brings awareness to marginalized people coping with mental health issues. 

Although Thurin works with a variety of media, her primary genre is figurative art. In Filtered Perspective, the central subject is understood to be a self-portrait, but her use of mirrors imply that it could be anyone, including the viewer. The figure is seen sobbing within a cage of eyes and set against a background of undulating waves that represent external forces pushing against her. Yet, despite the figure’s obvious sadness, the soft materials and bright colors suggest that there is also room for beauty and moments of gratitude. Thurin says, “We can work through painful things to create something better and even beautiful… Although we cannot pick what happens to us or around us, we can choose how we react, thus becoming our reality.”

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