Melissa has worked in both sculpture and drawing for over twenty years, living and exhibiting in California, Europe, and New York City. Her work is featured in a number of prominent corporate and museum collections including Dow Jones, JP Morgan, The Arkansas Art Center, American Museum of Ceramic Art and the Kohler Corporation, where she was an artist-in-residence. Her artwork was featured in the 3RD, WORLD CERAMICS BIENNALE 2005 Invitational exhibition, Icheon, Korea, Trans- Ceramic Art and 500 Figures in Clay. Her one-of-a-kind book NIGHTMARES has been acquired by the Library of Congress.
With a background in anthropology, Melissa’s work reflects both non-Western and outsider art influences. Her drawings, collages, and figurative sculptures are characterized by their richly drawn and deeply layered surfaces, as well their quirky, often dark humor.
The Talking Cure is a synthesis of Melissa’s interest in words, people and ideas. Collaborating with writers and actors was a great experiment in how people interpret what they see, read and hear. She hopes to embark on another such project very soon.
See more of Melissa’s work on her website.
Artist’s Statement
My brain is inhabited by a universe of people who look a little like you and me but tend to lack a limb or two. They are cheerful, standing tall in the face of absurdity and adversity. They balance delicately both physically and emotionally, seemingly ready to fall, but they never do.
I have long been fascinated by what goes on in people’s minds when they look at art. What stories do they tell themselves? What emotions and memories are triggered? I have made work that deals explicitly with memory, childhood and family, subjects with a strong psychological bent. I’m as interested in what others think the pieces are “saying” as in what has motivated me to make them in the first place.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 THE TALKING CURE- A Hug From the Art World , NYC
2024 A LEG TO STAND ON- Dimin Gallery, NYC
2023 HOUSEBROKEN- Kean University, Union ,NJ
2022 CHAT AND CHEW- Garvey Simon Projects, NY, NY
THE TALKING CURE- Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
2021 HOUSEBROKEN- Peepshow Space, Brooklyn, NY
STRONGER THAN DIRT- Lockwood Gallery, Kingston, NY
2020 DOES SHE OR DOESN’T SHE? – Firecat Projects. Chicago, Ill.
2018 STRANGE GIRLS – Garvey Simon, NY, NY
THE TALKING CURE – Kranzberg Center for Contemporary Art.
2017 YOU’RE SOAKING IN IT – Station Independent Projects, NY, NY
2016 THE TALKING CURE – The Weisman Art Museum. Minn. MN
LOOSE LIPS – The Univ. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.
THE TALKING CURE – Redux Contemporary Art Center, Charleston, SC
2015 THE TALKING CURE – Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT
2014 A YEAR IN PICTURES – SOPA Fine Arts, Kelowna, Canada
THE TALKING CURE – Akron Museum of Art, Akron Ohio.
2012 THE TALKING CURE – Smart Clothes Gallery, NY, NY (catalogue)
THE TALKING CURE – Fetherston Gallery, Seattle, WA.
2011 NEW MATH- DRAWINGS – Fetherston Gallery, Seattle, WA
LIFE DURING WARTIME- Drawing exhibition Barbara Archer Gallery, Atla GA.
NEW SCULPTURE – SOPA Fine Arts, Kelowna, Canada
2009 STEP RIGHT UP – bahdeebahdu Gallery, Philadelphia PA
COMING UP FOR AIR – Fetherston Gallery, Seattle WA
LOOSE LIPS – Drawing Exhibition – Milsaps College, Jackson, MS
2008 A COMMON SPACE – Barbara Archer Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2007 ABOVE THE BELT – Studioswan, Atlanta, GA
FAMILY VALUES – Gallery 31 North, Glen Gardner, NJ
2006 LOOSE LIPS – Drawing Exhibition – Zihlka Gallery, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
BIRDLAND – David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2005 FAMILY VALUES – WeissPollack Gallery, NY, NY
2003 VACATION – Spike Gallery, NY, NY
MY FRIENDS – David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
2002 BACK TO SCHOOL – The Children’s Museum of the Arts, NY, NY (catalogue)
2001 NEW WORK – Ballard Fetherston Gallery, Seattle, WA
THIRD GRADE – John Elder Gallery, NY, NY
2000 NEW WORK – Bachelier-Cardonsky, Kent, CT
1999 WAX WORKS – David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN
1997 DRAWINGS – Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
1996 NEW SCULPTURE – Bachelier-Cardonsky Gallery, Kent, CT
1995 DRAWINGS – Mia Gallery, Seattle WA
1994 SMALL SCULPTURE – Diana Burke Gallery, NY, NY
1993 FRIENDS – Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
1990 CHAIRS – ArtRages, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1988 NEW WORK – Primitivo Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1986 HOMESITES – Arts Council of San Mateo County, Belmont, CA
CHAIRS – Clodagh, Ross, Williams Gallery, NY, NY
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 CARE CONDITION CONTROL- 601 Artspace, NY, NY
2024 THE DOLL SHOW- Kleinart Center , Woodstock, NY
2023 DRAWING +: CERAMIC INTO SCULPTURE- LIC Artist Assoc. NY
BRAVINLEE CERAMIC SHOW-Bravin Lee Gallery, NY, NY
EXPONENTIAL- Jessica Hagen Fine Art. Newport RI
OUT OF JOINT- The Boiler, Brooklyn, NY
RESTRINGING THE PEARL- The Jewelry Library, NY, NY
2022 FEAR TO TREAD- Roger Williams Univ., Providence RI
THE DOLL SHOW- Gallery Gaia, Brooklyn, NY
BEHAVING BADLY- Lockwood Gallery, Kingston, NY
2020 CLAYTOPIAN NEW YORK- Plaxall Art Center, LIC, NY
DOMESTIC BRUTES- The Pelham Art Center. Pelham, NY
2019 THE IMPOLITE AESTHETIC- Joseloff Gallery, Univ. of Hartford. Hartford, CT.
BE MINE- LABspace, Hillsadle, NY
DOMESTIC MATTERS -Peter’s Valley Art Center, New Jersey
2018 POP GOES THE WEASEL – Williamsburg Art and Historical Center, NY, NY
THE BIG SMALL SHOW – Drawing Rooms. Jersey City, NJ
2017 WE THE PEOPLE – SERVING NOTICE – The American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2016 TALK TALK – Central Booking Gallery, NY, NY
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE – Spartanburg Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC
2015 MONEY, WHEELS AND RANDOM LEGS – Firecat Projects, Chicago, IL
2014 PSYCHED – Central Booking Gallery, NY, NY
COMPULSIVE NARRATIVES – Rutgers Univ., Camden, NJ
2013 GALLERY ARTISTS – Archangel Gallery, Palm Springs, CA
2011 NAMING THE ANIMALS – Curious Matter, Jersey City, NJ
RETROFUTUREOLOGY – Observatory, Brooklyn, NY
2010 PARADISO CONTRAPASTO – Observatory, Brooklyn, NY
PILLOW CULTURE – Dumbo Arts Festival, Brooklyn, NY
2009 THE SKETCHBOOK PROJECT, Traveling Exhibition – Arthouse, Atlanta, GA
2008 CONFRONTATIONAL CERAMICS – curated by Judith Schwartz, Westchester Arts Council, Westchester, NY
2007 FORMS OF OPULENCE – Allen Gallery, NY, NY
HAVE A SEAT! – Beylerian Collection of Small Chairs – The Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY
RED – Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
THE INNER CHILD – The Hunterdon Museum of Art, Hunterdon, NJ
2006 FIGURATIONS – Sopa Gallery, Kelowna, Canada
MOTHERHOOD: THE MYTH, THE MAGIC, THE MADNESS -Design for Living Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2005 NEW TALENT 2005 – Co-curated by the Museum of Ceramic Art, New York (MOCA/NY), and Weispollack Gallery, NY, NY
3RD WORLD CERAMICS BIENNALE 2005 – Ceramics: The Vehicle of Culture Invitational exhibition, Icheon, Korea (catalogue)
2004 PULP FICTION – bahdeebahdu Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2003 ENCAUSTIC 2003 – Juried Exhibition, Poughkeepsie, NY (catalogue)
2002 PUSHING CLAY – Univ. of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
2001 R&F ENCAUSTICS – Juried Biennial – Kingston, NY (catalogue)
1998 NEW TALENT – John Elder Gallery, NY, NY
1996 INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS – The Society of Arts and Crafts, Boston, MA
1995 NEW YORK CLAY – Traveling Exhibition, Stavanger, Norway (catalogue)
1994 VIEWPOINTS – Bachelier Cardonsky Gallery, Kent, CT
NEW GENERATION – Elaine Benson Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY
1993 HEADS OR TAILS – Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
1992 CHAIRS – Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA
FIGURATIVE CERAMICS – Mia Gallery, Seattle, WA
1991 AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE – Gallery of Functional Art, LA, CA
1990 SIGNS OF SUPPORT – FURNITURE FORMS IN CONTEMPORARY ART –
John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI
1988 ARTIST’S FURNITURE INVITATIONAL – Wita Gardiner Gallery, San Diego, CA
THE AESTHETIC EDGE – Corvalis Art Center, Corvallis, OR
IMAGINARY LANDSCAPES – Primitivo Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1987 VIEWING THE FIGURE – University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
1986 INAUGURAL EXHIBITION – Clodagh, Ross, Williams Gallery, NY, NY
1984 INTROSPECTIVES – AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY WOMEN – Pyramid Art Center, Rochester, NY
1983 THE AMERICAN CLAY NATIONAL – Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS/REVIEWS
-SCULPTURE MAGAZINE— Photograph and magazine article, Vol 44, No 2, Winter 2025
– CERAMICS NOW- International Magazine, Budapest, Hungry, Winter 2025
-THE POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL—Art From Here. 20- Year Retrospective at The Lockwood Gallery. Kingston, NY June 2021
-ARTSPIEL- Melissa Stern: Stronger Than Dirt. A 20-Year Retrospective. June 2021
– NEWCITY ART-Visual Art of Chicago. January 2021.
– HEC TV – A visual portrait of the artist and The Talking Cure exhibition St. Louis, Jan. 2018
– NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MULTIMEDIA INSTALLATION “THE TALKING CURE”, St. Louis Post Dispatch. January 2018
– “THE TALKING CURE” INVITES AUDIENCES TO BECOME PART OF THE ARTISTIC PROCESS – St. Louis Magazine, Jan. 2018
– TALKING CURE, TALKING HEADS – Minnesota Daily, September 7, 2016
– MELISSA STERN’S “THE TALKING CURE’ – South Carolina Public Radio, by Jeanette Guinn, June 21, 2016
– REDUX’S CURRENT EXHIBITION “THE TALKING CURE” IS MULTIFACETED – Charleston City Paper by Connelly Hardeway, July 15, 2016
– THE TALKING CURE AT REDUX CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER – Arts Daily, May 2016
– THE TALKING CURE: 12 SCULPTURES, 12 WRITERS, 12 ACTORS – Charleston Art Magazine by Marjorie Rawle, May 2016
– MONEY, WHEELS AND RANDOM LEGS – The Chicago Tribune, Oct. 15, 2015
– SCULPTOR INVITES WRITERS TO TELL THE STORIES OF HER WORKS AT REAL ART WAYS – The Hartford Courant Review, March 5, 2015
– DON’T MISS: FIGURES OF SPEECH – The Wall Street Journal, May 30, 2014
– MELISSA STERN: OFF BALANCE ART – Feature article, Wesleyan University Alumni Magazine, Fall 2013
– ARTnews – Review of The Talking Cure Exhibition, January 2013
– NEW YORK ARTS: THE TALKING CURE – Interview with Leah Oates, February 2013
– THE TALKING CURE – Catalogue of the Exhibition, 2012
– ART FOR THE EYES AND EARS: MELISSA STERN’S “THE TALKING CURE” IN NEW YORK – Dujour.com, December 2012
– NEW YORK ARTS – Nostalgic Confessions: Drawings by Melissa Stern, February 2009
– AMERICAN ILLUSTRATION 26: The Best American Illustrations of 2007, November 2007
– Review of BIRDLAND – The Memphis Commercial Appeal, April 21, 2006
– BIRDLAND – Catalogue published in conjunction with the Exhibition, David Lusk Gallery, Memphis, TN 2006
– CLAY IN ART INTERNATIONAL – Published by kerameiki techni, Athens, Greece, 2006
– TRANS-CERAMIC-ART – Catalogue of The 3rd World Ceramic Biennale, Published by Icheon World Ceramic Center, Icheon, Korea, 2005
– 500 FIGURES IN CLAY – by Veronika Gunter, Lark Books, Ashville, NC, 2004
– BACK TO SCHOOL – Catalogue essay by Paul Karlstrom, Published by The Children’s Museum of the Arts, New York, NY, Winter 2003
– CERAMIC FIGURES – by Michael Flynn, Rutgers University Press, New Jersey, 2002
– FORM & TRANS-FORMATIONS – Catalogue by Judith Schwartz, Queens, NY, 1997
– NEW YORK CLAY – Essay by Judith Schwartz, Exhibition catalogue, Rogaland Kunstnersenter, Norway, 1996
– THE NEW YORK TIMES – Sunday Review, December 15, 1996
– CHAIRMANIA – FANTASTIC MINIATURES by George Beylarian, Harry Abrams pub., New York, NY, 1994
– DAN’S PAPER – Review, Bridgehampton, New York, May 20, 1994
– EAST HAMPTON INDEPENDENT – Review, May 22, 1994
– THE NEW YORK TIMES – Sunday Review, August 2, 1992
– CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ART CRAFT: A COLLECTOR’S GUIDE – Barbara Mayer, Peregrine Smith Books, Salt Lake City, UT, 1988
– PRONTO – Cover photograph and article, Vol. 4-5, Tokyo, Japan, 1988
– ARS AUREA – Magazine article, Berlin, Germany, Winter 1988
GRANTS/AWARDS
– AWARDED ARTIST RESIDENCY- Benyamini Center For Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2014
– AWARDED ARTIST RESIDENCY – The Washington School of Glass, Washington, DC, 2011
– AWARDED ARTIST RESIDENCY – The Serenbe Institute, Serenbe, GA, 2007
– SPONSORS AWARD: R& F Handmade Paint Juried Exhibition, 2001
– KOHLER FOUNDATION GRANT: Artist-in-Residence – Kohler Company, Sheboygan, WI, 1988 AND 1990
SELECTED PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Bunker Artspace, Miami, FLA
Racine Art Museum Racine, WI
The Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
International Center for Collage, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Library of Congress: Rare Books and Special Collections, Washington, DC
Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY
The Arario Gallery, Seoul, Korea
Bear Stearns & Co. New York, NY
News Corp Inc, New York, NY
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona. CA.
Davison Collection, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
The Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, A
Stavenger Museum, Stavenger, Norway
The Metropolitan Home Magazine Design Collection, New York, NY
The Kohler Company Collection, Sheboygan, WI
Designtex, New York, NY
EDUCATION
-1976-1980 BA Anthropology and Studio Art, Cum Laude with Honors in Anthropology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
-1982-1984 MFA Ceramics, State University of New York, New Paltz, NY