Michele Kortbawi Wilk

Michele Kortbawi Wilk is a self-taught artist whose lifelong devotion to both art and animals serves as the foundation of her work. She has been drawing and painting since early childhood, and though she took art classes during her school years, her artistic development has been largely self-directed. Her practice is shaped by a deep sensitivity to the spirit, personality, and character of each subject—qualities she considers essential to capture in every painting. Influenced by both modern-day animaliers and the Old Masters, her work reflects a timeless reverence for the animal form.

In her early adulthood, Wilk’s passion for animals led her to Southern California, where she worked with exotic, native, and domestic animals for the motion picture industry. These experiences deeply informed her artistic eye, enriching her understanding of anatomy, movement, and expression. As she continued to paint for pleasure, she attracted the attention of renowned Hollywood animal trainers such as Frank Inn—trainer of Benji—and Cindy Cullen, daughter of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Commission work followed, and painting soon became her full-time pursuit.

For over 25 years, Wilk’s work has been exhibited in juried shows throughout the United States and abroad, earning numerous awards. Her paintings are held in both private and corporate collections, and she continues to live and work in Naples, Florida.