Artist Statement
A practice rooted in wonder, story, and courageous human connection.
I am an interdisciplinary, multimedia artist whose work lives at the intersection of visual art, storytelling, and community practice. Through mixed media, illustration, writing, and collaborative creative projects, I build participatory frameworks designed to cultivate wonder, resilience, and belonging.
Whether it is a painting, a public art initiative, or a year-long creative experiment, every project starts with an invitation. In a world where human worth is too often reduced to output and efficiency, choosing wonder, kindness, and intentional gathering is an act of artful resistance. Art is not merely content to be scrolled past on a screen; it is an experience we are invited into that shapes how we move through the world.
My studio practice and community practice continuously inform and nourish one another. Ideas explored through paint, paper, and physical mark-making evolve into shared experiences, while the stories, trust, and relationships formed through participatory projects inevitably find their way back into my studio. Together, they form an interconnected body of work grounded in curiosity, beauty, and the art of staying human in an age of algorithms.
“Wonder is a path back to ourselves and one another in a divided, distracted, & disconnected world.”
— D. Michele Perry
Selected Works
A selection of collaborative and studio-based projects exploring visual art, storytelling, and community practice.
Current Long-Term Project
The Frolic & Forage Society is a growing movement helping thousands of adults exchange digital overwhelm for real-world wonder and creative connection gathering with neighbors around everyday tables.
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The Frolic & Forage Society is a whimsical, scouting-inspired creative community for adults built around four simple ideas: Make. Explore. Gather. Grow. At its heart, it’s about permission to connect with your creativity, find community, and rediscover the parts of yourself that may have gotten lost in the busyness of adulthood. We provide a loose framework through celebration badges, field guides, creative adventures, and resources that make gathering easier. More than anything, it’s permission to build community through curiosity, whimsy, and wonder.
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I shared what I thought was “a silly little idea” for a whimsical adult scouting-inspired community. It has been viewed over 3 million times since I shared it July 4th 2026. Almost immediately people started forming local troops in the comment section.
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5,500+ members joined the digital clubhouse
60K + followed related social media
39+ local troops across the US and overseas
3M+ views
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It’s actually a double meaning borrowed from mycology, where a cluster of wild mushrooms growing together in the forest is called a troop. It’s not about rigid hierarchy or mastery—it’s about creating reasons to gather, celebrate, and keep exploring together.
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We spend so much of our adult lives focused on outcomes. I wanted to celebrate courage. Badges don't have to represent mastery; they can be storytelling devices. Imagine meeting someone and, instead of awkward small talk, you start talking about the "I Did It Scared" badge on your story sash. Suddenly, badges become conversation starters that help people celebrate one another and build real connection.
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I hope Frolic & Forage helps create neighborhoods filled with people gathering around tables—celebrating courageous moments, making glorious messes, learning new skills, and connecting with one another. I think a brighter, kinder world is built one table, one gathering, one act of generosity, and one small moment of wonder at a time.
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We are currently working on an interactive directory for our independent local troops so people can find eachother.
Our first Field Guide for our August meeting
Celebration badge kits
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Here’s a link to our most Frequently Asked Questions
Our first celebration badge in progress… It will be a downloadable design complete with step-by-step instructions.
Mushroom Beret + Whimsified Top (Using literal visible mending.)
Our pledge
About Michele
D. Michele Perry is an author, artist, and creator whose work explores how wonder, creativity, and the power of our unfolding stories shape culture and build community. She is the founder of The Frolic & Forage Society and creator of The Wonder Habit®, a best-selling Substack exploring attention, resilience, and human connection in a divided, distracted world.
Perry’s authority on community and hope was forged in the fire. She survived 23 childhood surgeries for life-threatening birth defects, spent seven years in an active conflict zone in South Sudan, and later rebuilt her life after a brain injury stripped her of her words.
She holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, brings over 30 years of public speaking experience across 6 continents, and her writing, artwork, and videos have reached millions worldwide. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
