I'm Michele Bury, an artist, designer, educator, and founder of Bluō Studio.
The work grew from a design project exploring how abstract shapes could give feelings visible form. That idea evolved into the Reflections collection you see here.
In three dimensions, the surrounding space becomes part of the work. Light and shadow continually change the way a form is seen. Bring several together, and new relationships emerge between shape, color, and space.
I may begin with a feeling, but each piece invites you to find your own connection to the form.
The Studio
From line to form
It Starts With a Line
Every form begins with a freehand drawing.
I sketch by hand, usually many versions at once, drawing, connecting, and adjusting until I find a shape that captures a feeling.
The drawings are then digitized, but I intentionally preserve the irregularities of the original line. I want the hand behind the shape to remain visible.
When 2D Becomes 3D
The drawing becomes an object: a flat shape cut from thin birchwood, layered with hand-painted paper, seemingly suspended in midair.
The shape now has a front, an edge, and a shadow. I paint that edge deliberately, creating a subtle line of contrast. Seen from the side, it's a reminder that what looks flat is actually an object occupying space.
The Form Connects
The magnet is intentionally left visible, a small part of the construction that becomes part of the piece itself.
As the form approaches the wire, you feel the magnetic pull, followed by a click as the two meet. The form can turn, shift, or remain still, inviting interaction. I like that this small moment engages more than the eye.
The natural wood base grounds the piece while the form above it appears almost weightless.
Color Changes the Story
Color is another form of exploration. In a print, the color of the shape and the color of the background work together. Change either one, and the same form tells a different story.
What matters
The Hand Stays Visible
I move between the precision of digital tools and the variation of working by hand. Painting, assembling, and finishing are all done by hand, so traces of the making process stay visible in the finished piece.
Small Batch
Bluō is intentionally small.
I make pieces in limited quantities rather than mass-producing them. Working this way gives me the freedom to experiment, make changes, and pay attention to the details of each piece.
It also means the work can continue to evolve.
Close to Home
Whenever possible, I work with local suppliers, printers, and fabricators and source materials close to my studio.
I choose materials thoughtfully for both how they perform and how they feel to work with, gravitating toward paints and materials without strong odors.
Supporting other small businesses and makers is an important part of how I want to build Bluō.
Driven by Curiosity
Curiosity keeps Bluō moving. I'm interested in what happens when a new material, process, or color changes something familiar. Conversations with collectors often feed that curiosity too.
Once a piece leaves my studio, the exploration becomes yours. What I see in a form may be completely different from what you see. That space for your own interpretation is part of the work.