Melanie Crawford

I have had the privilege of a life of creativity, an amazing art education and the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I have learned that life is complex and in a perpetual state of change and evolution. Nothing remains the same over any extended period.

My optimism, my passion for art and my continual desire to create is reflected in every aspect of my work.
For me, art is about connection, an expression of the journey of life and offers a higher understanding of communication. I am always curious and experimenting, yet I find my process to be the most integral part of my art making. Layers of texture, drips, colours, welcomed mistakes and the travelling of paint build the story of my paintings. My process reveals, conceals, and re-examines what we define as beauty like collecting evidence of life lived over time; the peeling of paint on walls and the hidden potential residing in discarded remnants. I am fascinated by the beauty found in organic marks made naturally without overthinking or correcting.

I am often led by the revolutionary strategy originally put forward in the "Theory of the Dérive" (1956) by Guy Debord. The dérive is defined as "a mode of experimental behaviour linked to the conditions of urban ...

Bachelor of Fine Arts/Art Education - First Class Honours 2013
UNSW: Art & Design, College of Fine Arts, Sydney AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Arts 1998
Macquarie University, Sydney AUSTRALIA

2023 Winner - Abstract Art Award - "Essence of Place" Royal Society of Art, South Australia
2022 Featured Artwork on Australia's Best House TV Show - hosted by Megan Gale - Winning house in Small home category
2022 - Featured in Art Folio 2022 - publication
2022 Winner - Ministers Arts Education Prize - South Australia
2022 Finalist - Zart National Teacher-Artist Prize
2021 Winner - Zart National Teacher-Artist Prize State Based Award for South Australia
2021 - Art Lovers Australia Prize Selected Artist
2020 - Luxembourg Art Show Entrant LUXEMBOURG
2020 - 'Sunset Studies' Solo Exhibition, Ambleside Distillers, AUSTRALIA
2020 - 'Urban Hymns' Solo Exhibition Château Tanunda, AUSTRALIA
2019 - Loreto Art Show, AUSTRALIA
2019 - 'Home' Solo Exhibition, Centre for Creative Health Royal Adelaide Hospital, AUSTRALIA
2019 - 'True North' Solo Exhibition, Prospect Gallery AUSTRALIA
2018 - Loreto Art Show, AUSTRALIA
2018 - SALA Festival, 33 Chapel, Norwood SA AUSTRALIA
2018 - Luxembourg Art Prize Entrant, LUXEMBOURG
2018 - VAESA Members Exhibition, Gallery One, AUSTRALIA
2012 - Halfadesk Group Show, Kudos Gallery, AUSTRALIA
2012 - Photomedia: Exhibition Wyspa Institute of Art, Gdańsk, POLAND
2012 - COFA Annual Graduate Exhibition UNSW Roundho...