🌥️ Cloud Galleries Artist Spotlight is a blog series. It celebrates the creative people who make their home in our boutique gallery spaces. Each artist brings a unique vision to Second Life. This spotlight is my way of sharing their stories, art, and the perspectives they offer through their work.

This week, I am pleased to feature Michiel Bechir, a seasoned Second Life photographer. His clear-eyed approach captures the essence of the world around him. Whether it’s a foggy harbor, a distant skyline, or a quiet city street, Michiel’s work encourages us to look. It reminds us to notice what we may otherwise pass by.

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Walsh County Photo by Michiel

🖌️ Meet Michiel Bechir

Michiel describes himself as someone who simply loves to explore and take pictures in the wonderful world of Second Life. That curiosity is evident in every image he shares. He’s always observing. He’s always wandering. He always sees the details that give a place its sense of atmosphere.

Over the years, Michiel has become a familiar name in the SL arts community. He is not only known as a photographer. He is also recognized as a curator, gallery owner, and art enthusiast. His presence is felt across the grid in both solo shows and collaborative exhibits. He continues to support and uplift other creators through his ongoing work.

“A photograph never grows old,” he shares, quoting Albert Einstein. “You and I change, people change all through the months and years, but a photograph always remains the same.”

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Cherishville spring Photo By Michiel

📸 Through the Lens

At Michiel’s Cloud Galleries space, visitors are invited into a calm and considered collection of photographs. His work often focuses on the natural and built landscapes of SL. He captures open skies, moody coastlines, and quiet architectural scenes. Each one is captured with care and clarity.

Rather than manipulate or dramatize the image, Michiel lets the scene speak for itself. There’s a subtlety and honesty in his composition that highlights the everyday beauty of Second Life’s vast environments. It’s this attentiveness to place that makes his work so resonant.

His recent series Beyond Border, featured in Inara Pey’s Modem World, is a compelling example of his style. In the series, we travel through virtual landscapes. They feel grounded, open, and real. These landscapes offer quiet invitations to pause and take in the view.

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Emperor & Empress Lealtad Dynasty Photo By Michiel

🏠 Michiel at Cloud galleries

Michiel’s space at Cloud Galleries reflects the simplicity and clarity of his photography. The gallery is light and spacious, allowing each image to breathe and offering room for the viewer’s own thoughts to enter.

Michiel curates exhibitions at several other SL venues outside of Cloud Galleries. He regularly participates in art events across the grid. His steady contributions and commitment to community make him a pillar in the world of SL art.

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🌐 Explore More

• 📍 Visit Michiel’s gallery at Cloud Galleries
• 📍Michiel’s works @ Art park
• 📍The Michiel Bechir Gallery at Embrace
• 📸 Michiel’s Flickr
• 🌐 On Primfeed
• 📖 Facebook

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💬 Owl’s Thoughts

Michiel’s work offers a gentle reminder to slow down. It encourages you to take a look around and appreciate the quiet corners of Second Life. His photographs are windows into moments that might otherwise go unnoticed—but once you see them, you’ll want to keep looking.

We’re grateful to have him here at Cloud Galleries. Stop by, explore, and enjoy the view.

~ Owl🦉