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About Dirt Alley Design

michelle chandra

I Create the Art I'd Like to Own: Fun, Interactive, Eye-Catching

I started Dirt Alley Design just off a dirt alley in San Francisco in 2017. I make geometry art with code by rotating a variety of shapes (everything from hexagons to sine waves!) based on waveform modulation. That's a fancy way of saying pattern is my jam!

I draw each print to order using a robotic drawing machine and a selection of pens from the sparkly to classic black and white. Everything you see here is done by me, right down to writing blog posts and shipping out prints, stickers and shirts.

 

Generative Math Art: Designed with Data

In October of 2019, I released my first generative print collection - Endless Forms Most Beautiful. These designs are created programmatically, but the designs are reminiscent of the forms created by toy spirographs you might have played with as a child (or as an adult!) See my latest generative designs here.



The radially symmetric designs are the result of an algorithm that places shapes rotating around a central point based on the frequency and amplitude of waveforms. Out of pure mathematics and code, delicate and finely detailed forms arise reminiscent of origami, mandalas, flowers, and other *beautiful things*! 

Each generative print is drawn to order using a robotic drawing machine - the Axidraw by Evil Mad Scientist Labs. I use a variety of pens for each print including metallic gel pens by Uni-ball, micron pens by Sakura, and Staedtler Pigment Liners.

Giving Back

I donate prints to local causes including providing survivors of the 2017 Sonoma County fire with new home decor. In 2020, I became a featured artist with I Paint My Mind based in Chicago. This amazing nonprofit brings rotating art galleries to local schools through their Shared Walls program, and I am thrilled to be a participating artist. I have also donated the proceeds from the sale of my prints to worthy causes including Black Girls Code.

Please contact me if you are a non-profit interested in working with me! 

A Little Bit About Me

michelle chandra dirt alley design

I studied programming, data art and cartography at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program where I earned my Master's degree (that's a fancy way of saying I've got the know-how to make cool art).

For my Master's Thesis, I created an interactive map visualization that let you see sunrises and sunsets around the world on Instagram in real-time! My graduate work was featured in many publications including the Daily MailtheWashington Post, EngadgetGizmodo, the Creator’s Project and the Weather Channel. 

I founded Dirt Alley Design just off a dirt alley in San Francisco in December of 2016. After working for several years at a web mapping startup, I decided to pursue my entrepreneurship dreams full time in 2018.

When I am not busy designing cool art, I enjoy exploring the great outdoors and rock climbing.

Press

I think my art prints are pretty cool, but don't take just my word for it! My artwork has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Print Mag and Vice, to name a few!