Melanie Miller makes paintings which follow a classic tradition of still life and are inspired by her immediate environment. The local objects and flora are represented in a forensic manner leaving the viewer to unpick their own poetic connections and narratives.
Through a laborious process of building up layers of oil paint on traditional gesso boards which she prepares herself, Miller creates the complex ambiguous dark grounds on which her delicate still-life paintings evolve. The objects are usually painted life-size, quotidian subjects are chosen with a degree of spontaneity, they are seasonal or abundant, and they are also chosen for their elementary appeal.
By focusing attention on ephemeral and familiar objects, looking at and enshrining the unremarkable and disregarded, the interest is in the present rather than the prestigious and aims to explore the beauty and history of the overlooked.
In a new venture, Miller has made installations inside small boxes using collaged elements with found and cast objects from the natural world. Viewers can illuminate them from above with their mobile phones allowing unique views of mysterious worlds.
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
Maidstone College of Art B.A hons Fine Art.
Wimbledon School of Art M.A in Painting.
Solo Exhibitions:
2020-21 “Finite Things” Long and Ryle
2020 “Solace 2020’ (selection of work made during lockdown) April 20 Long and Ryle
2020 Landscape Unstilled lIfe . Darlby and the Bear Woodstock Oxfordshire
2018-2019 “The Form Of Things Unknown” Le Salon Vert Geneva Switzerland
2014 “Natural History” Long and Ryle.London
2011 “Close: Still” Millenium St Ives
2010 ”Moth Boy and Bees” Long and Ryle.
2009 “Small Truths” Millennium St Ives
2008 “Particular” Hilton Young Penzance
Gallery Artists Vertigo Gallery . London
Inanimate . Chapel Gallery Penzance
Selected recent exhibitions include:
2002-13 2015-22 Royal Academy of arts Summer exhibition
2021 “Model Maquette” The Cello Factory Southwark. London
2020 Landscape Unstilled lIfe . Darlby and the Bear Woodstock Oxfordshire
2020 ‘The Seventh View” C24 gallery New York
Wells Art Contemporary. Wells Cathedral Somerset.
2002-2016 2017, 2019 ‘The Discerning Eye’ Mall galleries, London
2009-13 2015-17 “Columbia Threadneedle Prize” (Shortlisted 2009)
Gallery Artists Vertigo Gallery . London
Inanimate . Chapel Gallery Penzance
Exhibitions curated:
2018 “Seen Unseen” an exhibition with five painters and a poet. Alice Oswald , Juliette Losq, Sue Williams
A’court, Anna Gardiner, Louise McClary, Melanie Miller
Long and Ryle London June to September 2018
Forthcoming Exhibitions :
Shortlisted for the Contemporary British Painting Prize
Exhibition Huddersfield Art Galery 23rd September 2023
‘New;Unknown’ Long and Ryle October 11th- November 1st 2023
Art Fairs
Art Miami
London Art Fair
International Print Fair
20/21 art Fair
BADA
Residencies :
2019 KIRA: Kingsbrae International residency for the Arts Canada