melanie matthews

Biography

Melanie Matthews is best known for her dynamic use of paint to transform the quotidian into conceptually rich images. Her work draws widely from popular culture and art history to fuse diverse elements, styles, paint applications, approaches, and materials and to explore themes surrounding sexual identity, representations of the feminine and sexual politics. Melanie is known for developing a popular immediate image transfer technique and for her expertise and proficiency in acrylic techniques.

She holds a BFA with distinction from Concordia University. She has worked with acrylic paint and resins for over 40 years, with 20 years of experience as a Working Artist Professional with Golden Artist Colors. Melanie has exhibited widely on a local scale in Montreal at The Belgo Contemporary Art Building, as well as in Ontario. She has also exhibited internationally in New York and Miami, as well as in Taipei. 

She has been lecturing and instructing painting for over a decade at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and Dawson College. She has also been lecturing for Golden Artist Colors throughout the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Melanie is a mother of 2 and based out of Montreal, and she is currently represented by Gallery on Queen in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Resume

Summary

Professional artist, instructor, art jurist and exhibition curator with over 30 years of experience in art production, exhibit & event co-ordination, and the communication of this expertise. Specialized in acrylic paint and resins, and has developed a popular immediate image transfer technique. Ever energized by the process of art-making, from concept to completion.  Motivated to share these passions with the community. Deeply loves the collaborative process of bringing art to the public and developing creative and culturally relevant events that can transform the way we see ourselves and the world.

Education

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (With Distinction) Concordia University, Montreal QC
  • D.E.C. Creative Arts Program Dawson College, Montreal QC

Experience

Working Artist Professional

  • Have given 225+ paid lectures and demonstrations to thousands of artists 
  • Give 100+ art workshops per year on a dynamic range of topics
  • Perform hands-on & in-person talks intended for artist groups & associations on a broad range of art materials and techniques
  • Act as the face of Golden Artist Colors, offering International sales training at the corporate head office in New York state
  • Meet and teach artists and business people from countries across the world including China, Chile, Europe and Australia
  • Generate popular content for the company in the form of videos that highlight application development and technique execution
  • Created most-viewed video on the Golden Artist Color website/YouTube channel with over 1 million views

Exhibitions

  • 2023 Galerie McClure exhibition Renouveler
  • 2023 Galerie McCLure Faculty Exhibition
  • 2017 Art Souterrain: Jeu et Diversion
  • 2015 Projects Gallery Square Foot Art Basel Miami Florida
  • 2013 Warren G Flowers Gallery TransLuminal Project, light box installation
  • 2012 Visual Voice Gallery/Belgo Contemporary Art Building Solo
  • 2012 Visual Voice Gallery/Belgo Contemporary Art Building Body and Soul
  • 2012 Visual Art Centre Square Affair, Group show
  • 2012 ARTlab group 100 Works show
  • 2011 Visual Voice Gallery/Belgo Contemporary Art Building Invagination
  • 2011 Visual Voice Gallery/Belgo Contemporary Art Building Solo
  • 2011 Maison Andre-Benjamin–Papineau Terratransforma, Solo
  • 2010 Galerie Port Maurice Group show      
  • 2009 Galerie de la Ville Dollard des Ormeaux Group show                       
  • 2009 YES Montreal Auction/Fundraiser
  • 2008 Galerie Port Maurice Group show
  • 2008 Galerie de la Ville Dollard des Ormeaux Rhizome Model, Solo
  • 2007 Mobilia Pointe Claire Art at Home
  • 2006 Ogilvy Tudor Hall Can. Soc. of Artists, Juried Exhibit
  • 2005 Galerie de la Ville Dollard des Ormeaux As We Do, Group show
  • 2003 Galerie Port Maurice Group show
  • 2003 Journée de la Culture Studio Tour Exhibitor
  • 2000 Stewart Hall Group Exhibition
  • 1997 Cornwall Regional Art Gallery, Cornwall Ont, Duo show
  • 1996 Galerie Les Ile des Moulins Terrebonne Solo
  • 1995 Galerie Ile de s Moulins Terrebonne Duo Show

International Exhibitions

  • 1994 Visual Link Gallery 1F #24 Lishi St.Taipei, TW Permanent exhibition since February 4th

Publication/Media

  • 2017 La Presse Mario Cloutier Art Souterrain review March 4
  • 2013 Gazette John Pohl ARTlab endorsement
  • 2013 CBC cinq a six interview with Raj Sohl (Covers workshop interview)
  • 2013 North Light Books Acrylic Painting With Passion (Contributor) 
  • 2012 La Presse Review of Roy Box Une Fleur une Etre Humaine
  • 2012 Gazette John Pohl review Nature vs. Nurture exhibition Visual Voice Collection
  • 2011 Walter Foster Books, Artist Series Modern Acrylics (Contributor)
  • 2008 North Light Books Rethinking Acrylic (Contributor) 
  • 2006 The Chronicle Studio Tours, September 14
  • 1993 Radio Canada Les Petit Bonheur de Clémence (Guest)
  • 1988 McGill Players Theater Poster for the production of “The Father”.
  • 1988 A.N.C. Benefit Publicity Poster for Fundraising

Teaching (Selected)

  • 2012-Present Montreal Museum of Fine Faculty Member
  • 2008-Present Visual Art Centre Faculty Member
  • 2007-Present Dawson College CTD Department Faculty member
  • 2005-2012 Dollard Centre for the Arts Faculty Member
  • 2004-2008 Stewart Hall Cultural Centre Workshop Facilitator
  • 2002-Present Golden Paint Working Artist Certified Lectures and workshops
  • 1995-2008 Au Papier Japonais Workshop Instructor
  • 2004-2007 Saidye Bronfman Centre Faculty Member
  • 1983 Dawson College New School  Drawing 1 Facilitator

Lectures (Selected)

  • 2017 National Art Educator Association  conference NYC
  • 2017 Concordia University Contemporary Painting Practices (since 2007)
  • 2013 Concordia University Art Education dept.
  • 2012 UQAM Dept Dessin & peinture
  • 2009 Dawson College, in studio lecture Contemporary Painting Practices.
  • 2008 – Present Stewart Hall Culturel Centre Contemporary Painting Practices.
  • 2007 – Present Concordia University Guest lecturer in studio, Contemporary Painting Practices
  • 2004 Guest lecturer at The Canadian Society of Artists 37th Annual Juried Exhibition.