Michelle Holley grew up in northwestern Illinois and attended college at Western Illinois University. She graduated in May of 2007, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in graphic design and printmaking. She currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa.

Her latest body of work has transformed from a heavy graphic focus to a more whimsical surrealist feel. Through experimentation with painting, she has found a way to merge her love of whimsical characters with the element of design.