Education University of Memphis, BA, 1994

Solo Exhibitions Love Song, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2017 You, Me, and Us, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2014 Old Bridge, New Bridge, Delta Arts Gallery, West Memphis, AR, 2013 Looking for One Thing, Finding Another, The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, TN, 2011 Foster Ave. Paintings, Material Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2007 38 N. McLean Paintings, Material Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2005 To Bavaria, Swampland, Regensburg, Germany, 2000 Recent Work, Otherlands, Memphis, TN, 1998 New Paintings and Prints, Otherlands, Memphis, TN, 1996

Selected Group Exhibitions New Works, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2017 Holiday Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 Assembled, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN, 2016 Coat Check, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 No: 10. Anniversary Show, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2016 Summer Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2012-2016 Terrain Biennial, Kyle Stratham’s Front Yard, Memphis, TN, 2015 Holiday Group Exhibition, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2011-2014 Pandora’s Child, Clough Hanson Gallery, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, 2014 Inspired Resistance, Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN, 2014 Present Tense, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis, TN, 2013 Material Anthology, Crosstown Arts, Memphis, TN, 2013 Pyramid Scheme, Leadership Memphis, Memphis, TN, 2013 Works on Paper, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2012 I Can See Your House From the Highway, L Ross Gallery, 2012 August Paper Show, L Ross Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2011 The Art of Science, Rozelle Arts Guild and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 2011 Permission to Roam, Levy Gallery, Buckman Performing Arts Center, Memphis, TN, 2011 We Like Each Other, Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Seward, NE, 2010 52nd Annual Delta Exhibit, Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, 2010 Contemporary Abstraction, Amanda Schedler Fine Art, Birmingham, AL, 2009 Fourth Annual U8l, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC, Canada, 2009 Tennessee Abstract Painting, Cheekwood Museum, Nashville, 2009

Melissa Dunn

I see the world through shapes. What fasci-nates me about a circle, square, or triangle is its mutability when it comes in contact with color, pattern, and placement. I do a lot of drawing to explore these relationships, and once I’ve hit on a compelling configuration I’ll draw it repeatedly so it’s a part of my muscle memory as I paint. My paintings vary from one shape scenario to another, but what con-nects them is my relationship to color. Source materials for the colors I choose are every-where - from childhood photographs with 70s oranges, to a piece of wallpaper, to drag makeup tutorials on YouTube. The way I use color to push, pull, and manipulate shapes is hopefully an entryway into an experience.

Whatever the formal drive and preoccupa-tions of my work, it is ultimately emotionally engaged. My purpose is to imbue love into the act of making with the hope that some-how that intention will find its way into a greater good. I tend to keep this part of my practice, which comes directly from my heart, private. It’s vulnerable, personal, and senti-mental. But in these divided times, where empathy and connection are being drowned out by fear, it feels important to acknowledge that as my mind studies shape’s relationship to color, in my heart I repeat the mantra “love, love, love, love.”

Price Is Right, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2008 Class of 2007, Lantana Projects, Memphis, TN, 2007 Annual Winter Group Exhibition, Second Floor Contemporary, Memphis, TN, 2005 Art Farm Group Exhibition, Art Farm Gallery, Memphis, TN, 2001 New Artists 2, Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts, Memphis, TN, 2000 SOMA Group Show, Troy Glasgow Images, Memphis, TN, 1999 White Trash/Black Velvet, Tobey Gallery, Memphis, TN, 1996 New Absurdist, Marshall Arts, Memphis, TN, 1994 Windows and Walls, Rainbo Club, Chicago, IL, 1992

Work in Collections Iberia Bank, Memphis, TN NFC Investments, Memphis, TN Orion Federal Credit Union, Memphis, TN Women’s Foundation of Greater Memphis, Commission in honor of Dr. Rosie P. Bingham

Professional Experience Flicker Street Studio, Instructor, Memphis, TN, 2010 - present Carpenter Art Garden, Art Instructor, Memphis, TN, 2013 - present Walk the Line (Feature Film), Art Department Assistant, Memphis, TN, 2004 Forty Shades of Blue (Feature Film), Art Department Assistant, Memphis, TN, 2004 17” Cobras (Short Film), Production Designer, Memphis, TN, 2003 Wayne County Ramblin’ (Feature Film), Production Designer, Memphis, TN, 2000 Carol DeForest Ceramics, Studio Assistant, Memphis, TN, 1996 - 1997 Sam Rosby Ceramic Studio, Studio Assistant, Chicago, IL, 1987 - 1990

Artist in Residence

Calumet Artist Residency, Gary, IN – August, 2014

Arts Advocacy

Artist Advisory Council, ArtsMemphis, Memphis, TN, 2014 - 2017

Selected Publications Fredric Koeppel, “Melissa Dunn paints ‘Love Song’ to artistic world at L Ross Gallery,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN Mar 10, 2017 Dwayne Butcher, “Art of Politics,” The Memphis Flyer, Mar 2, 2017 Pinch Literary Journal, Spring 2016 Fredric Koeppel, “Pen & Brush,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, January 2, 2015 Fredric Koeppel, “Works Confirm Mastery of Color, Space,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, Nov 2014 Chris Davis, “We Recommend: You, Me, Us,” The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN, Nov 2014 Eileen Townsend, “Artists on their Dream Space, Part 2,” The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN, Sept 2014 Dwayne Butcher, “The End: A Recap of Art in Memphis in 2012,” The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN, Dec 2012 Fredric Koeppel, “Year’s Top Exhibitions Rife with Revelations,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, Dec 2012 Fredric Koeppel, “Domestic Focus for Colorists,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, June 2012 Fredric Koeppel, “Unexpected Elegance arises from Abstraction,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, Nov 2011 Fredric Koeppel, “Group Exhibits Show Galleries’ Full Diversity,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, Aug 2011 Fredric Koeppel, “Artist Does Much With Color,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, 2007 Chris Davis, “Material Man – A New Art Space Showcases the works of Melissa Dunn,” The Memphis Flyer, Dec. 10, 2005 Bluff: Memphis Arts Papers, (cover illustration) Fall 2000