Michal was born and raised in Israel and resides in New Jersey.

An IT professional by training, Barkai devotes her time now to art. Waterscapes, reflections and the changing seasons are favorite subjects in both her paintings and photographs. A sense of place and harmony is a common thread. Love of color and detail is another. Barkai uses oils and dry pastels for her paintings and favors small format.

Barkai’s work was featured in Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector Magazine, and several others. Barkai’s photographs were included in national juried exhibitions at the Salmagundi club in NYC and her photograph, Winter Reflection, was an Official Selection of the 2009 International Photography Awards held by the Lucie Foundation.

My influences come from different parts of my life, complementing each other: a natural sense for design, an early childhood? by the sea and sun-drenched fields of Israel, a move to the east coast of the USA, rich in waterscapes and seasonal changes, a long IT career that sharpened my analytical skills, followed by a need and opportunity allowing me to awaken my visual self. She adds “Beauty, aesthetics, and harmony feed my inner search for serenity and peace.”

Barkai is a signature member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey, of which she currently serves as President.