Each of Michelle Sakhai’s sold works carries a unique story, a reflection of her artistic journey and the deep connection between art and the viewer. Sakhai’s one-of-a-kind gold and silver leaf paintings, now in private collections around the world, continue to inspire and evoke the transformative energy they were created with. Explore this collection to see a selection of past works that have found their homes, embodying moments of light, emotion, and personal reflection.

On the run, 48 x 120 in. total

“Painted in NYC, ‘On the Run’ is a massive, playful diptych which was unplanned and evolved completely on its own. One stroke led to the next in creating this spontaneous flow of movement. I wouldn’t be able to recreate it even if I tried. This painting feels like a dance to me- like a section of music, a bar or measure. Your eye travels with the painting wanting to continue and see where it goes. I had a lot of fun making it, layer after layer.”

butterflies & tulips, 72 x 48 in.

“When I think of an etherial garden I’d like to escape to, ‘Butterflies & Tulips’ comes to mind. Golden butterflies swirling over and around me while I smell all of my favorite flowers…this is the world I hope viewers can also find themselves in and return to whenever they seek peace. This painting was originally exhibited at Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson, AZ and it was the perfect, tranquil venue that this piece needed in order to shine and find the right client.”

divinity, 68 x 90 in.

“This vast piece dating back to 2016 captures the essence of ‘the heavens’ to me. I have always loved imagining and feeling into that etherial space, so to capture that essence I used splashes and drippings of gold. I rarely utilize this technique, especially over silver leaf, but I did really enjoy how the layering created a beautiful multi-dimensional quality and ‘light’ feeling. Creating on such a large scale really lends itself to the atmospheric theme of this piece as it allows you to feel as though you are practically drifting into the clouds as you approach it.”

THE empress III, 60 X 40 IN

“The Empress is a Major Arcana card of the Tarot that represents the maternal life-force, fertility, and nurturing. The Empress is associated with the planet Venus, which is associated with love, beauty, and creativity. Translating this meaning into a painting could have gone in many directions, but at the time I felt drawn to the layering of various vibrant paints and floral motifs for added femininity. The Empress is the Earth Mother symbolizing all the abundant diversity and physicality of nature. She represents creative expression with grace, and viewers should feel empowered to tap into her energy when viewing this piece.”

synergy, 55 x 90 in. total

“This triptych is a compilation of qualities from my floral series mixed with an abstract landscape. Similarly with ‘Divinity’, I greatly enjoyed the accents of gold leaf over the contrasting silver leaf background. However, a completely new concept to me at the time was assigning a unique color palette to each panel, and when they are all combined it creates a special and dynamic ‘synergy’ connecting all three pieces. My hope is for the viewer to feel the overall movement- like wind blowing through all three panels and continuing onwards.”

growth, 60 x 40 in.

“The painting ‘Growth’ was extremely fun to create- but also a great challenge for me. I rarely use the technique of making ‘holes’ in the gold leaf and applying it on top of an already gilded canvas. Metal leaf is extremely fragile, so it's quite difficult to not let it fall apart in your hands before it even hits the canvas. First, each tiny piece was carefully cut to the desired shape and then added very gently to the canvas without tearing. This piece showcases development, where I believe you can feel the energy of maturation practically sprouting from the canvas. Much of the time what I create is a subconscious reflection of what I am experiencing in my personal life, and perhaps this is a prime example.”

lotus I & ii, 72 x 120 in. total

“Entering a tranquil world, this piece is a celebration of nature. My intention is to invite the viewer through a cascade of pink and purple flowers, into a glimpse of my Lotus World, where I intend to capture the essence of nature's quiet elegance through the lens of abstract expressionism. Combining my background as a plein-air painter, I created an archway of pink and purple flowers and forms of lotus flowers floating in an abstract world.  The drippings and splashes layered over the gold leaf is a depiction of water and movement. I enjoy exploring the interplay between the physical and the ethereal, by using light to enhance the gold leaf. The Lotus series is one I am still working on today.”

joy, 80 x 40 in.

“A very early piece from 2015, ‘Joy’ was a fun exploration of the expression of joy on a two dimensional plane. From the outset of ideating this painting, I knew there had a to be a new, intriguing element I hadn’t tried yet. I decided to create the piece on two square canvases as a vertical diptych, in effect breaking away from my mold of designing horizontal diptychs. I believe this added a quirky element to this very light-hearted piece that's full of happy, uninhibited, and colorful marks.” 

knowing, 30 x 40 in.

“Full of glamour, gold over gold over gold, this piece was meant to shine. The dreamy drips and splashes of jewel tones and pastels made this painting one to remember. “Knowing” was meant to be an opulent centerpiece that could elevate any space that it was in.”

pure love, 48 x 36 in.

'“Calling back to my influences from Japanese art and culture, this piece touches on the pure essence and innocence that are found within those sources. I created this painting while renting a home in Cape Cod with my now husband. We enjoyed the escape from the city and its chaos, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown, and we welcomed the feeling of getting back to the basics, being surrounded by flowers, and walking in our garden everyday.”

subconscious flow, 33 x 110 in. total

“This expansive diptych, composed of silver and variegated leaf, evokes the sensation of being immersed in the depths of water—surrounded by fluidity, movement, and vibrant life. The shimmering metallic tones ripple across the canvas, mimicking the reflective nature of water as it plays with light, creating a dynamic yet calming atmosphere. For me, water embodies emotion in its purest form: it is both powerful and gentle, steady yet ever-changing. Through this representation, the painting invites the viewer to connect with the hidden layers of their own subconscious.”

For inquiries: info@michellesakhai.com