Michelle Lea Cappelli was born and raised in Florida. She studied Painting, Sculpture, and Life Drawing at Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Michelle also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where she studied Fashion Design and Illustration. She completed her collegiate studies at the State University of New York at Purchase where she graduated with a B.A. in Art History.

She gains inspiration through her travels and has been fortunate enough to have lived in Australia and visited Hong Kong, Thailand, Mexico, France, and Belgium. She has also traveled extensively throughout Italy. While touched by all of these foreign influences, Michelle's art and lifestyle have been greatly influenced by the Italian love of the beauty in art and in celebration.