Michelle St.Laurent was born and raised in New Jersey, the oldest of four children in a large Italian family. At a young age, Michelle was inspired by Italian Renaissance painters Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. She began painting at the age of 6 and asked for new paint sets and sketchbooks on every birthday. In the first grade, she entered a poster contest creating a painting of all the Disney characters marching in a parade. The judges disqualified her because they could not believe she had done the painting by herself without tracing. Her disappointment fueled her determination to become an artist.
Michelle began painting for the Disney Galleries in 1998 and became a true Disney artist. Over 20 years now her talent evolves with each piece. "Through my paintings, I aspire to recreate the classic Disney magic, which allows each of us to be a kid again. Her art feeds her life’s passion and her family fuels her passion for life.