Melanie Reese

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Born 1991

Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY

Melanie Reese is a Brooklyn-based observational painter inspired by formalism. Lines, shapes, colors, and textures are as central to her work as is the process of creating them. Moving between abstract elements and familiar structures allows her work to echo the representational through symbolic formalism. She holds an MFA from SVA and a BS from Skidmore College.

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Melanie Reese is a Brooklyn-based observational painter inspired by formalism. Lines, shapes, colors, and textures are as central to her work as is the process of creating them. Moving between abstract elements and familiar structures allows her work to echo the representational through symbolic formalism. She holds an MFA from SVA and a BS from Skidmore College. She has completed Artist-in-Residencies at Vermont Studio Center, Elsewhere Studios, and JX Farms. Reese recently had a solo show at Warnes Contemporary Gallery in Red Hook, Brooklyn in September 2023. She has exhibited widely throughout the United States including Untitled Space (NYC), Maison 10 Gallery (NYC), and THE GALLERY by Odo (NYC) and has been featured in several publications including New American Paintings Northeast Issue 134, New American Painting Featured Artists, Inside Artists, Studio Visit Magazine, and New Visionary Magazine. Reese lives and works in Greenpoint, BK with her husband and their elderly cat, Miss Puds, who hates all of Mel’s paintings and is always her toughest & most vocal critic.

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Inside The Studio

Visit the Studio with Mel Reese

Let's uncover Mel's signature layering style of vivid, bold colors and forms in this week's studio visit.

Abstract Landscapes

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Abstract Landscapes by Melanie Reese

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In this series, I create minimalist paintings by layering lines and organic forms on canvas. Paint is applied in large, sweeping gestures—tracing the movements of my body. These forms are both accentuated and complemented by lines that are applied with spray-paint. Both the forms and spray-painted lines are meant to consciously interact with the frame of the painting, so that the edge of the canvas itself becomes a line demarcating the limits of the work. The result is a tension between the sharper geometric edge of the canvas and the smoother organic forms that interact with it.

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$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and spray paint on paper

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$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic on paper

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$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

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Frozen Tracks in the Snow

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and spray paint on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and spray paint on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

Dead Wheat Plains

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

River Rocks at Night

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic, spray paint, and caran d'ache on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and caran d'ache on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic and spray paint on paper

$850

or $71 x 12 months

$850 or $71 x 12 months

30 x 22" • Acrylic, spray paint, and caran d'ache on paper

Young Spring Leaves

$650

or $54 x 12 months

$650 or $54 x 12 months

36 x 24" • Acrylic on canvas

Body Abstractions

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Body Abstractions by Melanie Reese

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"Body Abstractions" is a series I created during my MFA where I was interested in zooming in on the female body, my own body specifically, to focus on the textures, lines, and forms that occurred from this act of minute focus. By abstracting the body, I was able to focus on the medium of painting and revel in the joys of composition and materiality

Body Abstraction no. 8

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 9

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 6

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 11

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 14

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 15

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 16

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 18

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 19

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 1

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 3

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 4

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 12

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Body Abstraction no. 5

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

8 x 10" • Oil on canvas

Color & Light

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Color & Light by Melanie Reese

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This series discusses my fascination with the way in which light plays such a crucial role in our understanding of colors

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$1,100

or $92 x 12 months

$1,100 or $92 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$1,100

or $92 x 12 months

$1,100 or $92 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$1,100

or $92 x 12 months

$1,100 or $92 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$1,100

or $92 x 12 months

$1,100 or $92 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

$750

or $63 x 12 months

$750 or $63 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Spray paint on canvas

Figure

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Figure by Melanie Reese

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My fascination with line and form originated with my love for figurative painting & live figure drawing

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

5 x 7" • Acrylic & pencil on paper

$300

or $50 x 6 months

$300 or $50 x 6 months

11 x 15" • Acrylic & pencil on paper

$250

or $42 x 6 months

$250 or $42 x 6 months

7 x 11" • Acrylic & pencil on paper

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

8 x 11" • Ink on paper

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

8 x 11" • Ink on paper

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

11 x 8" • Ink on paper

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

8 x 11" • Ink on paper

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

8 x 11" • Ink on paper

$200

or $33 x 6 months

$200 or $33 x 6 months

11 x 8" • Ink on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$787

or $66 x 12 months

$787 or $66 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$800

or $67 x 12 months

$800 or $67 x 12 months

24 x 18" • Pen on paper

$1,250

or $104 x 12 months

$1,250 or $104 x 12 months

16 x 12" • Acrylic, gouache, and pencil on paper

$1,500

or $125 x 12 months

$1,500 or $125 x 12 months

18 x 24" • Acrylic, gouache, and pencil on paper

$1,500

or $125 x 12 months

$1,500 or $125 x 12 months

18 x 21" • Acrylic, gouache, and pencil on paper

$1,500

or $125 x 12 months

$1,500 or $125 x 12 months

18 x 20" • Acrylic, gouache, and pencil on paper

Large Scale Work

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Large Scale Work by Melanie Reese

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$4,000

or $333 x 12 months

$4,000 or $333 x 12 months

36 x 60" • Acrylic on canvas

Cherry & Magnolia Trees

$4,000

or $333 x 12 months

$4,000 or $333 x 12 months

36 x 58" • Acrylic on canvas

$4,000

or $333 x 12 months

$4,000 or $333 x 12 months

60 x 36" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$4,000

or $333 x 12 months

$4,000 or $333 x 12 months

60 x 36" • Acrylic on canvas

$4,000

or $333 x 12 months

$4,000 or $333 x 12 months

60 x 36" • Acrylic on canvas

$4,000

or $333 x 12 months

$4,000 or $333 x 12 months

60 x 36" • Acrylic on canvas

Alaska Landscape 01

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

58 x 18" • Acrylic, soft pastel, and caran d'ache on canvas

Alaska Landscape 03

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

58 x 18" • Acrylic and soft pastel on canvas

Alaska Landscape 04

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

58 x 18" • Acrylic, soft pastel, and caran d'ache on canvas

Alaska Landscape 05

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

58 x 18" • Acrylic, soft pastel, and caran d'ache on canvas

Alaska Landscape 06

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

58 x 18" • Acrylic and soft pastel on canvas

Alaska Landscape 02

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

58 x 18" • Acrylic, soft pastel, and caran d'ache on canvas

The 21 Trumps

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The 21 Trumps by Melanie Reese

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The following are 22 paintings I created for my MFA thesis in 2017. The abstraction in this series is effected through symbolic gestures, distinctive lines, and organic forms on canvas. This work both documents and engages with the everyday encounters, struggles and social injustices faced by women. I use abstraction to discuss and highlight these issues; the symbolic nature of each painting is meant to echo the struggles of all women who have ever been oppressed, as well as to add my own distinctive voice to this collective, ongoing struggle. In this project, I make special use of the historical and allegorical components of Tarot in order to frame a particular narrative in direct response to the political and social climate for women under the Trump Administration years. While I strive to give voice to women generally, each painting in my MFA thesis is ultimately rooted in and responds to my own experiences as a young American woman having lived during the Trump Administration

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Sexual Pleasure

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Maternity Leave

$2,500

or $208 x 12 months

$2,500 or $208 x 12 months

35 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Environmental Justice

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Domestic Violence

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Planned Parenthood

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$2,500

or $208 x 12 months

$2,500 or $208 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$2,500

or $208 x 12 months

$2,500 or $208 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Sexual Harassment

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$875

or $73 x 12 months

$875 or $73 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

$2,500

or $208 x 12 months

$2,500 or $208 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Reproductive Rights

$1,200

or $100 x 12 months

$1,200 or $100 x 12 months

25 x 42" • Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

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