‘Mama Love’ Michelle Finninger makes drawings, paintings, and comix that pull from personal writing and observation. Her work mixes diaristic fragments, raw portraiture, and humor, drawing inspiration from the 1970s underground comix scene and illustrative painters known for their bold use of color.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she moved to Los Angeles at 17, finishing high school and later spending the summer living in a 1983 Volkswagen van. After four years in Los Angeles, she briefly lived in Queens, and has most recently relocated to Northwest Portland after spending the late summer sailing in Southeast Alaska. She’s been published in print, apprenticed as a tattoo artist in Los Angeles, and worked as a storyboard artist for commercials for brands like T.J. Maxx and Ross.

Her work reflects a fascination with personal archives, everyday storytelling, and the tension between observation and performance.