Mel Davis’ abstract paintings are distinguished by being more than a painted object; they create a reality of their own. Davis forms collages from elements derived from popular culture as well as the natural world around her. This source material is used as a first thought and memory aid to compile more fully orchestrated compositions for transposition to canvas. Painted in both vibrant and soft hues that push the limits of physicality and test our perceptions of material, the work is a consequence of replicas of replications, which is faithfully and artfully organized and interpreted by Davis. The aesthetic of fragmentation is inherent in her painting process, adapting a multi-layered, harmonious composition, using singular elements in a medley of styles. For Davis, this intricate system reflects the complexity of navigating information today. At the center of Davis’s project is the question; how do we absorb information and arrange it?
Mel Davis grew up in Montreal, Canada. She obtained her BFA from Concordia University, (1998), and her MFA at The San Francisco Art Institute. She currently lives and works in the Bay Area. Her work has been the subject of exhibitions at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California (2020), Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles, (2017), Madison Gallery, Lo Jolla, (2016) and Olga Korper, Toronto,(2016). She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Quebec,(2004) The Canada Council for the Arts,(2008,2014) and the Pollock Krasner Foundation Award, (2016).
Mel Davis grew up in Montreal, Canada. She obtained her BFA from Concordia University, (1998), and her MFA at The San Francisco Art Institute. She currently lives and works in the Bay Area. Her work has been the subject of exhibitions at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California (2020), Honor Fraser Gallery, Los Angeles, (2017), Madison Gallery, Lo Jolla, (2016) and Olga Korper, Toronto,(2016). She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Quebec,(2004) The Canada Council for the Arts,(2008,2014) and the Pollock Krasner Foundation Award, (2016).