About Melissa Schainker
Melissa Schainker has been creating art since she could pick up a pencil.With an education in both fine art and design, she creates work informed by that background, but
in a non-traditional fashion. She works primarily in oil and illustration. She bridges the gap between street art and fine art, with gallery work and murals. Melissa is based in New York, exhibiting regularly in the city, but also globally. Her collectors span the globe as far as Singapore and also across the US.
Artist Statement
In routine, linear relationships and found objects… in replayed moments stuck in my mind… in every sunrise and in every spiral I can find… in love and in deep reflective pain, my muse can change and shift, but mostly it is found within myself. Combining surrealism and realism, I create works that depict life and also the subconscious.
New Brunswick Art Salon 2022 —Oil and Mixed Media: “Beyond the Brush: The Contemporary Imagination”
Education
2000-2002
- University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN
- Presidential Scholar
- Sol and Arlene Bronstein Scholarship for most promising painting student
2002-2004
- Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL Bachelor of Art, Graphic Design,
- Minor in Painting
- transferred from USI
- Provost transfer scholar
- graduated cum laude
- Golden Key International Honor Society
2010-2012
- Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA worked towards MFA in Web Design and New Media started online and ended studies on campus
Job Experience
2017 – present
- m schainker fine art – New York – Owner/Fine Artist
- Creation of original art for sale via studio, galleries and commission
- Running all operations and promotions
- Hiring of models and temporary help
- Web design and creation of promotional material, both web and print
- Maintaining gallery and press relations
2007-2011
- Optimist International – Saint Louis – Design Manager
- Responsible for all designed publications, web and print content, consistent with company brand and mission
- Redesigned Magazine layout in both English and French
- Provided new designs for old website
- Coordinated printing of all materials for organization
- Branding for annual conventions and other programs as needed
2006
- PBS – Saint Louis – Scheduling Coordinator
- Assisted in scheduling of freelance camera, audio and production for local commercials and over-all station coordination
- Also aided in production and assistant directing
2005-2011
- Self – Saint Louis, MO – Freelance Designer
- Designed for a variety of clients on a project-basis
- Clients Include – Save-A-Lot Grocery Stores, Cjeka Search, Mist Day Spa, The Jewish Light
2004-2006
- Intaglio Creative – Saint Louis, MO – Graphic Designer
- Worked mostly in a print-capacity for a variety of clients, both for profit and not-for-profit
Exhibitions
- 2001 – Juried Student Exhibition, University of Southern Indiana, drawing
- 2003 – Juried Student Exhibition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, silversmithing
- 2004 – Senior Exhibition, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, mixed media thesis show
- 2017 – Solo Exhibition, Mellow Yellow Cafe, New York, NY, drawing
- 2018 – Group Show, “Calicornicopia 7” at Calico Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY, drawing
- 2020 – Group Show, “Art for Food Auction” Raising funds for Food Bank for New York City
- 2020 – Group Show, “Colors, Shapes & Shadows” at Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY, drawing
- 2020 – Group Show, “Under the Mask, A Metamorphosis” at Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY, drawing
- 2020 – Group Show, “Quo Vadis” at Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY, drawing and painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “A New Beginning” at Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Mardi Gras” at NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “HERStory: Moving Forward” at Viridian Artists, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “A Visual Culture” at Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “SWAN week – women’s show” at NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, painting and drawing
- 2021 – Group Show, “5 Borough Art Fair” at NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, painting and drawing
- 2021 – Group Show, “Nostalgia” at The Holy Art, London, UK, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “NYC Art Movement” at NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, painting and drawing
- 2021 – Pop-Up Show, “Rich and Sexy Brunch” with Damagevents New York, NY, painting and drawing
- 2021 – Pop-Up Show, “PYNK Social Experience” Norwood Club New York, NY, painting and drawing
- 2021 – Group Show, “Art Out” at DorDor Gallery, Brooklyn, NY painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Romantica, Shape of My Art” at M.A.D.S. Milano, Milan, IT, painting
- 2021 – Group Show/Featured Artist, “Soho Art Walks” at NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, drawing and painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Ultra Local” at Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Philo-Poem” at M.A.D.S. Milano, Milan, IT, painting
- 2021 – Featured Artist, DaJuice Gallery, New York, NY
- 2021 – Solo Show, Triangle Loft/Bento on Hudson in coordination with Art Apple NYC, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Miami Art Walks” at Wyn317, Miami, FL, painting
- 2021 – Pop Up, “Sunset Soiree” with Damagevents, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Summer in the City” at NYC Arts Empire, painting and drawing
- 2021 – Pop-Up Show, “PYNK Mixer” Starta Studios New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show/Live Painting, “Soho Art Walks” in coordination with TMJ Arts Collective and Sponsored by Kate Spade NY, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “The No Theme Show” at NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Mural/Public Art, “NYC Mural Festival” in coordination with TMJ Arts Collective in Radial Park, New York, NY, mural
- 2021 – Group Show, “Atlanta Art Walks” in coordination with TMJ Arts Collective, at Fa$t Life Society, Atlanta, GA
- 2021 – Pop Up Group Show/co-curator, “The Love of Art” at the Lofts at Prince in coordination with Guerrilla Art Shows, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Bowery Derby Sticker Show” at The Bowery Union, New York, NY, stickers
- 2021 – Art Fair, “Affordable Art Fair NY” New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Aura” at The Holy Art, London, UK, painting
- 2021 – Group Show/Mural/Public Art/co-curator, “0h10 Mike and Friends Sticker Show” at First Street Green Art Park, New York, NY, mural, stickers
- 2021 – Group Show/Live Painting at Plaza Vzla NY in coordination with Venezuela Art Fair and sponsored by City Artist Corps, Long Island City, NY, painting
- 2021 – Auction, “Artful Autumn for Autism Awareness” at Fountain House Gallery in coordination with Special Citizens, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “A Show of Violence” at Another Planet Studios, Brooklyn, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show/Live Painting, “Soho Art Walks, Halloween Edition” in coordination with TMJ Arts Collective and Sponsored by Kate Spade NY, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Crypto Art Fair” sponsored by Pollinate Art, NFT Magazine, Superworld, Cstmhaus and Nervos Network CKB, Times Square and Meatpacking, New York, NY, AR and NFT art
- 2021 – Group Show, “0h10 M1ke and Friends Sticker Show” at 17 Frost Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, stickers
- 2021 – Solo Show, Triangle Loft in coordination with Guerrilla Art Shows ands Richard Ponzi, New York, NY, painting, drawing
- 2021 – Group Show, “Interior Vybes” at Normann Copenhagen + Parasol Projects, curated by NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “Polychromatic” at Blue Gallery NYC curated by Guerrilla Art Shows and Mr. John Wright, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, “The Gift” Viridian’s 51st Holiday Invitational Show at Viridian Artists, New York, NY, painting
- 2021 – Group Show, Miami Art Week, curated by Pollinate Art, Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, Miami, FL, NFT and AR art
- 2021 – Pop-up/Artist Talk/Duet exhibition with Android Oi, “Brunch + Bubbly” at Triangle Loft, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, “Post-Holiday Exhibition” at Blue Gallery NYC curated by NYC Arts Empire + Guerrilla Art Shows, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, “New York Artists for the Bronx” at West Chelsea Contemporary, benefiting the Bronx Fire Fund and curated by Elisse Geberth, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, “Crypto Nights” curated by TMJ Arts Collective at Clockwork XIV, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, “Could be a Duck” curated by Adrian Bermeo at IVY House Studio, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, “Sustaining Self” curated by Studio 3 NYC at Brooklyn Space Modern Furniture, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, curated by TMJ Arts Collective at Spyscape Museum, New York, NY, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, “INERTIA catharsis” curated by Queen of Hearts Global at One Art Space, New York, NY and Brassworks Gallery, Portland, OR, painting
- 2022 – Group Show, Yonkers Art Weekend at Riverfront Library, Yonkers, NY, painting
Speaking Engagements
- 2021 – “Promotion for Women in Fine Art” at Kollision NYC hosted by NYC Arts Empire and Minika Ko, an art + fashion + technology event
- 2021 – Artist Talk with Hueman Palette, IGTV interview and live painting
- 2021 – Artist Interview at Pink Mixer, Starta Studios, New York, NY
- 2022 – Life Drawing Host at Blue Gallery NYC coordinated by NYC Arts Empire, New York, NY
Events
- 2021 – Live Painting “Smokes and Jokes” in collaboration with Da Juice Gallery and Unruly Collective
- 2021 – Live Drawing “Smokes and Jokes” in collaboration with Da Juice Gallery and Unruly Collective