Bio
Melanie is a Brooklyn, NY based artist who focuses on the relationships between people and the built environment. The built environment plays an integral role in how the works develop, reflecting personal experience through the lens of human perception within the urban fabric. Born and raised in Columbus, IN she received a master’s degree in architecture from Indiana University. Melanie’s work has been exhibited throughout Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. Melanie was awarded a grant from the Liu Shiming Art Foundation in support of her solo exhibition held at The Blanc Gallery in 2023. Her work has also been published in Sfumato Magazine and Create! Magazine in 2024.
Artist Statement
My work explores the effects of the built environment on human experience, perception and behavior. Through photography and oil painting, I explore how the built environment influences humanity’s experiences, behaviors and perceptions. Each of these aspects are essential threads that connect us all. This work acts as an archive of daily experiences within the context of a dense urban environment, specifically New York. These works explore often-overlooked aspects of life in a city, such as the zones between public and private, shifting boundaries, creation and destruction, visual and auditory privacy, accessibility and safety, and human connection.
My immersion within the city of New York allows me to directly express moments of my life and witness change in real time. The unexpected pairing of my colorful, gestural and energetic oil paintings and my candid black and white photography allow me to tell unexpected stories and bring about engaging explorations found through some of the most mundane moments. Over time this archive will grow and continue to tell stories as diverse and beautiful as the places and people they capture.