I paint to create a metaphor for breath. For life.
Good paintings are well constructed objects of heart with intellect and skill. Well-made artifacts of the painting and drawing disciplines are my ambition.
My palette is high key like the intense light of the Southwest where I have lived most of my life. The stylistic dynamism of the Baroque sings to me rather than the Apollonian balance of the Renaissance.
I strive to make courage visible. All the different kinds of courage; the courage to be quiet and still; the courage to push ahead, damn the torpedoes; and the courage of good art.
Selected One Person Exhibitions
| 2020 | THE TIE THAT BINDS, Dougherty Art Center, Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, |
| 2019 | WALLS, Seton Cove Spirituality Center, Austin TX |
| 2018 | Melanie Hickerson, Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX |
| 2010 | WALLS (and Dolls), ACC Cypress Campus, Hallway Gallery, Cedar Park, TX |
| 2003 | Girl on the Wall, Austin Spirit Gallery, 1206 S. Congress, Austin, TX |
| 2000 | New Work, Art on 5th , 1501 W. 5th Street, Austin, TX |
| 1998 | Living in 3-D, Borough Hall, 100Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY |
| 1994 | Chasing the White Buffalo, Garden in the Forest, 96 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY |
| 1993 | Melanie Hickerson, Staten Island CTV, 100 Cable Way, Staten Island, NY Surviving, Ceres, 584 Broadway, New York, NY |
| 1991 | Melanie Hickerson, Art Lab Gallery at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY |
| 1987 | One Woman’s Vision, Art Lab Gallery at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY |
| 1983 | Retrospective, Data Gallery , 407 E. 7th , Austin, TX |
| 1977 | Melanie Hickerson, Teatro Goldoni, Via dei Soldati, Rome, Italy |
Selected Group Shows
| 2021 | DON’T SHUT UP, Newhouse Gallery, 1000 Richmond Terrace, S.I., NY, curated by Susan Grabel and Stefany Benson | |
| 2020 | Art Studio Tour, BigMedium, Austin, TX. DIVULGE, D’art Gallery, Norfolk, VA, juried art exhibit. The Big Show, Round Rock Arts Center, TX, Virtual. | |
| 2019 | 2019 E.A.S.T., Art84, 84 Waller St., Austin, TX. Artist’s Parents Exhibit, Westbeth, NY, NY, curated by Robert Bunkin. | |
| 2018 | E.A.S.T., DANCE+MUSIC+ART, Gallery 84, 84 Waller St., Austin, TX. The People’s Gallery Exhibition, Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St., Austin TX. | |
| 2017 | E.A.S.T., DANCE+MUSIC+ART, Gallery 84, 84 Waller St., Austin, TX. Century Of Resistance, Gallery of Common Experience, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, curator Kelsey. Women Under Siege, Ceres, 584 Broadway, New York, NY, Invitational curated by Susan Grabel, | |
| 2016 | Friend’s Exhibit, Ceres, 584 Broadway, New York, NY, Austin Figurative Show , AVAA Artspace, 7739 Northcross Dr, Austin, TX, juror: Melissa Grimes. Thornton Road Studios Exhibit, City Council office of Ann Kitchen, Austin City hall, 301 W. 2nd St., Austin TX. . | |
| 2015 | MILL & LEAF, KIDS AT PLAY, 10,000 Research Blvd., Ste. 103, at the Arboretum, Austin TX. 2015 E.A.S.T. Imagine Art, 2830 Real St. Austin TX. Pop-up WEST, GenArt at Google Fiber Space, 201 Colorado, Austin, TX. The People’s Gallery Exhibition, Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St., Austin TX. | |
| 2012-2013 | Airport Art Exhibit, ABIA, Austin TX, Exhibit Coordinator, Matt Coldwell. | |
| 2013 | Women’s Rights: An Artist’s Perspective, Pam Foss Fine Art, St. Michaels, MD, Nov. 1 – Nov. 24, 2013, Karen Gutfreund, curator. | |
| 2012 | Arts Connects New York , El Centro del Inmigrante, Staten Island, NY, Curator, Susan Grabel. | |
| 2010 & 2011 | The People’s Gallery Exhibition, Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St., Austin TX. | |
| 2008 | Hunting Art Prize Finalist, Houston, TX. Sound Upon the Water, AVAA Gallery, four person exhibit, 3707 Home Lane, Austin, TX. | |
| 2005 | SILVER, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terrace, S. I., NY. | |
| 2004 | Constellation , Ceres, 584 Broadway, Suite 306, New York, NY; Invitational. | |
| 2003 | Spirit of Women, Austin Spirit Gallery, 1206 S. Congress, Austin, TX. | |
Reviews and Publications
2016 Cover drawing for THERE’S A BEAR RIGHT BEHIND YOU! Steve Bickerstaff, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, SC
1997-1998 Bloody Wymmin Comix, Issues 1-3, “Flawed Fury”, Bloody Wymmin Productions, 253 Fillmore St., Staten Island, NY.
June 11, 1996, Michael J. Fressola, “Memory Speaks to Island Painter”, Staten Island Advance.
November 4, 1995, Michael J. Fressola, “Of Buffaloes and Neighborhoods”, Staten Island Advance.
May 17, 1993, Michael J. Fressola, “Island Artist Has One-Woman Show”, Staten Island Advance.
November 13, 1991, Michael J. Fressola, “Two Women Artists Make Powerful Statements in Art Lab Shows”, Staten Island Advance.
Winter 1993, “Community Mural Making: A Real Life Adventure”, CCOSI Newsletter, Jan-Feb. 1993; and WCA New York City Chapter Newsletter
SELECTED LECTURES AND PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Gallery Talk, New Island Views, Snug Harbor, Staten Island, NY, February 20, 1999.
Gallery Talk, Living in 3D, Staten Island Borough Hall, Staten Island, NY, October 24, 1998.
Panel Moderator, “Defining and Developing Women’s Iconography”, WCA National Convention, Philadelphia, PA, February 1997
Selected Collections:
2003 Permanent collection of the University of Texas at San Antonio
A sampling of paintings can be seen on the Internet at: http://www.etaoin.com. Select art gallery; then Melanie Hickerson.
Website: http://www.melaniehickerson.com