Melissa Kenihan is a Naarm/Melbourne based artist who lives and works in bayside St Kilda. Her work is characterised by delicate mark making and intricate detail which communicate stories that generate a sense of connection and capture the imagination.
Melissa’s background in sound design anchors her artistic journey. Her transition from audio to painting and drawing was not just a change in medium; it became a new way to tell a story.
In recent years Melissa’s work has moved towards the landscape with a particular focus on capturing nature from an aerial perspective. Whether adopting a top-down view or an angled perspective, each work conveys the delicate interplay between human intervention and the untouched beauty of the natural world.
"For me, painting or drawing the landscape from above is a way to explore nature's scale, structure, and the dynamic relationships between different elements. As well as revealing vast untouched beauty, high-altitude views lay bare the extent of human impact. Urban development, agriculture, and infrastructure reveal themselves, offering insights into how humans have shaped the environment.”
Melissa's art transcends observation, delving into the nuances of human nature and our dynamic relationship with the world. Her landscapes become a canvas for introspection, inviting viewers to reconnect with nature and appreciate the inherent beauty of the landscape.
Awards
2023
The Hadley’s Art Prize - Winner of the Residency Prize
The Collie Prize - Finalist
2022
The National Emerging Art Prize - Finalist
The John Leslie Art Prize - Finalist
The Glover Prize - Finalist
2021
SBS Landscape Prize - Shortlisted finalist
Bluethumb Art Prize - Finalist
The Glover Prize - Finalist
2020
Bluethumb Art Prize - Finalist
2019
The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize - Semi-finalist
Exhibitions and Shows
2023
The Hadley’s Art Prize, Hadley’s Orient, Hobart
The Collie Prize, Collie Art Gallery, WA
2022
The National Emerging Art Prize, Michael Reid Art Bar, Sydney
The John Leslie Art Prize, Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, VIC
The John Glover Prize Exhibition, Evandale, Tasmania
2021
Southern Buoy Studio, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
The John Glover Prize Exhibition, Evandale, Tasmania
2019
The Linden Postcard Show, Linden New Art Gallery, Melbourne
The Mount View Art Show, Melbourne
The Bayside Art Show, Melbourne
The Victor Harbor Art Show, Victor Harbor SA