Meet Mickayel Thurin | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mickayel Thurin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mickayel, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want my legacy to be that I sparked a deeper awakening in people—encouraging them to embrace their most authentic selves and fully engage with the present moment. Through my art, I aim to stir emotions, disrupt autopilot living, and connect people to the raw truth of their experience. I want to be remembered for speaking my truth unapologetically and living in alignment with my highest timeline—honest, intentional, and at peace on purpose. In 50 years, I hope people will say I illuminated a mindset that empowered others to become their best selves and live with greater awareness and love. And if I didn’t achieve that, I hope they’ll say I embodied it in my own life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets my art apart is that I am truly myself in everything I create. I draw from my own experiences, emotions, and thoughts—expressing them in a way that feels natural and authentic to me. My work is a reflection of who I am at my core, and that raw, personal connection is what makes it unique. What excites me most is the journey, both the milestones I’ve reached and the ones I still dream about. Exhibiting in museums has been a huge accomplishment for me, but equally important are the connections I’m building—through interviews like this one, through my community, and the shared experiences that help me feel less alone.

I’m proud that I haven’t given up on my art or life, especially in the face of challenges. My resilience and my ongoing pursuit of self-growth are things I’m deeply proud of. I’ve been making art since I was a child, and I’ve never stopped. Finding my passion early on has been such a blessing—it’s always been the thing that makes me feel comfortable being myself. Art has helped me communicate in ways that words can’t always do, and it’s always been my most natural form of expression.

I’ve had the privilege of attending schools that encouraged me to center my art, which allowed me to explore a variety of methods and techniques. I started with the traditional, moved into more expressive styles, and then became more experimental as I honed in on my preferred language. I’m at a point now where my work has a deeper narrative, and I feel its purpose more strongly than ever before.

Overcoming self-doubt, fear, and perfectionism has been a major part of my journey. I’ve had to unpack and dissolve old belief systems that weren’t serving me and replace them with healthier ones. It’s been a battle against my own mind—learning to love myself, set healthy boundaries, and push through anxiety and depression. Through mindfulness, gratitude, and connecting with the energy around me, I’ve learned that peace isn’t a destination—it’s a state of mind. And that’s something I carry with me every day. I’ve learned to embrace my own growth and transformation, and now I’m more focused than ever on living in alignment with my best life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A Local Philly Adventure

Morning: Start the day with a homemade breakfast. Head over to Reading Terminal Market to pick up fresh, local ingredients—it’s one of the best spots in Philly for farm-to-table goodness. Afterward, head home to cook up a delicious breakfast, maybe with some local pastries, eggs, and fresh coffee.

Late Morning: After breakfast, if your friend doesn’t mind a walk, head over to The Barnes Foundation or the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) to soak in some art. Both are iconic spots, and you can take in the beauty of the artwork as well as the architectural splendor. For any Rocky fans, a stop at the Rocky Steps is a must-do—catch that perfect photo with the iconic statue! On other days, you could explore the historical parts of the city and visit many art galleries and check out Woodmere Art Museum.

Afternoon: Spend some time in Fairmount Park and take in the natural beauty of Sedgely Woods. If your partner enjoys disc golf, you could enjoy a round at the park’s disc golf course. It’s a relaxing way to connect with nature while doing something active. Alternatively, explore other hiking trails like Wissahickon or, if you’re in the mood for some theater, check out Avenue of the Arts with its many theaters showcasing operas, musicals, orchestras, and more.

Evening: For dinner, Philly has such a wealth of ethnic food to try. Whether it’s Mediterranean, Asian, or Latin American, you can enjoy something fresh and exciting. I like to try out the places I’ve never visited before.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe so much of my journey to the people and communities who have supported and believed in me. My parents always encouraged my artistic expression from an early age, and my husband has been a major force in keeping me connected to my creative practice—he consistently supports and believes in me, pushing me to prioritize my art. I’m also grateful for my art teachers, my community of friends, and the incredible artists who came before me or grew alongside me—living examples of what this path could look like.

Community-wise, I want to give a special shoutout to Gross McCleaf Gallery, Cerulean Arts, Nancy Devine Gallery, Paradigm Gallery, Woodmere Art Museum, Saginaw Art Museum, Delaware Contemporary, PAFA, and the PMA. These institutions have highlighted my work and given me platforms to share my artistic expressions with the world.

I’ve also been deeply influenced by spiritual teachings and books like The Four Agreements and Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself. I believe in the idea of universal consciousness—that we are all manifesting our experiences—and I see growth as the ultimate purpose of life. Being a mother has grounded me, expanded my understanding of love, and motivated me to see the bigger picture. One of my guiding principles is to act out of love instead of fear, especially when faced with uncertainty. I also make a point to reflect on the “glimmer moments”—the small, beautiful instances—rather than focusing solely on the difficult ones. Nature is another grounding force for me, and last but definitely not least, a huge shoutout to my therapist—she’s been an essential part of my journey.

Website: https://www.mthurin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickathurin/