John K. Melvin is an international artist nurturing community dialog on a meaning of ecology
relevant to society.
Education
2009 – Masters of Fine Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, California, USA
2005 – Post Baccalaureate in Studio Arts, Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art, FRANCE
2004 – Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Grants, Awards, Honors, Residencies
2023 – Guest artist for International Land Art Symposium & Residency, Villa Cernigliaro, Italy
2021 – Artist contract 2021-2025, monumental art, City of Quimper, Finistère, FRANCE
2021 – Passeport Talent Carte Séjour (renewed until 2025), Prefecture of Finistère, FRANCE
2019 – Qualified Artist Pool, City of Phoenix, AZ, Choice Neighborhood Project
2019 – Grant, “Racconti dal Margine” by Regione Toscana GiovaniSì, Siena Art Institute, ITALY
2019 – Biennale Artist Residency, I-Park Foundation, Connecticut, USA
2019 – Wurlitzer Foundation Fellowship, Taos, New Mexico, USA
2018 – Artist in Residence, I-Park Foundation, Connecticut, USA
2018 – Inspired Fellowship at Elsewhere Studios, Arts in Society Grant, Colorado, USA
2018 – Artist in Residence, Siena Art Institute, ITALY
2018 – Talent Passport, Carte Sejour, Prefecture de FINISTERE, FRANCE
2018 – Sculpture Space Artist in Residence, funded in part by New York State Council on the Arts, USA
2018 – Artist in Residence, Escape to Create, Florida, USA
2017 – Artist Grant, Chenven Foundation
2017 – Permanent Installation, Buffalo Creek Art Center, Nevada, USA
2017 – Artist in Residence, Brickyard Fellowship, Mutainyu, CHINA
2017 – Artist in Residence at 108, New York, USA
2016 – Residency with World Monuments Fund (Plastic Pollution), Siem Reap, CAMBODIA
2016 – Artist Stipend, Château de la Napoule, FRANCE
2016 – Sculpture Fellowship, The Bascom, A Center for the Visual Arts, North Carolina, USA
2016 – Artist in Residence, Jentel Foundation, Wyoming, USA
2015 – Artist in Residence, La Napoule Art Foundation, Napoule, FRANCE
2015 – U.S. Embassy Funded Artist in Collaboration, Gogol Fest, Kiev, UKRAINE.
2014 – Artist Stipend, HUMUS PARK, Land Art Biennale 2014, Pordenone, ITALY
2013 – Juror for Fairbanks 64th Parallel Annual Art Show, Alaska, USA
2008-9 – San Francisco Arts Commission, Stipend for Temporary Projects in Natural Settings, USA
2007-9 – San Francisco Art Institute, Graduate Study Grant, USA
2005 – Aven Project Grant from the Chaney Foundation, Carnation, Washington, USA
2005 – Fellowship for the Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art, FRANCE
2004 – Graduated with Distinction & Departmental Award, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston USA
Teaching & Lectures:
Host of Film Screening and Q&A, of “A Plastic Ocean” at: The REP Theater, Seaside, Florida, USA, 2018; The American Center, US Embassy, SIem Reap, Cambodia, 2017. “Normal is Over”, Paonia Public Library, Colorado, USA, 2018.
Artist Talks at: San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco State University, Pont Aven School of Art, San Francisco Arts Commission, Fairbanks Art Association, Friends of Lake Merced Association, Ukrainian arts Festival (Gogolfest), Southwest University of Visual Arts, Chateau de la Napoule, The Bascom Center for the Arts, Java Gallery Phnom Penh, Inspired Symposium, Paonia, Arkansas Recycling Coalition 2019 Conference, Conférence Web ALIVE, 26.02.21, MassArt Art Climate Justice Teach-In 2022…
Solo Exhibitions:
2021 –
Atelier Expo, Open Studio, Juillet-Août, Pont Aven, FRANCE
2019 –
VOCI DAL VENTO, Site Specific Installation, University of Siena, Santa Chiara FabLab, Siena, ITALY;
Plastique Fantasique, Pop-Up retrospective and Upcycling Workshop, Siena, ITALY;
EvoGyre, Permanent Installation Unveiling, The Rangali Bar, The Conrad, Maldives;
EntroTree, Public Unveiling, Permanent Sculpture, Sculpture Space, Utica, NY, USA
2018 –
It is what it is, Public Art Sculpture, alley adjacent to Elsewhere Studios, Paonia, Colorado, USA
2017 –
Curbing Entropy, June – December, Siem Reap International Airport, Arrivals Lounge, CAMBODIA
ROCK TRACE, Brickyard Retreat at Mutianyu Great Wall, CHINA
Curbing Entropy, 1961 Art Hotel, Siem Reap, CAMBODIA
2016 –
EvoCrawler, Site Specific Installation, Château de La Napoule, FRANCE
Truth with Lies, Gallery E23, Naples, ITALY
Mountain Top, 2016 thru 2018, The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts, North Carolina, USA
2015 –
CancerUS v1, Multiple Site-Specific Installations, Mandilieu-La Napoule, FRANCE
2013 –
Aven Redux, America’s Cup, 7 on Locust, Mill Valley, California, USA
Ice Pods, Madrone Art Bar, San Francisco, California, USA
2011 –
Alpha Omega Monument, Grand Rapids Public Museum, ArtPrize 2011, Michigan, USA
Prints, Ramp Gallery, SOMArts, Curator: Justin Hoover, San Francisco, California, USA
2008 –
CloudV2, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2007 –
18v5, site-specific install above US HWY 101, San Francisco, USA
2006 –
John K Melvin, Solo Booth, MAC 2006, Contemporary Art Fair, Paris, FRANCE
2006 –
Aven Project, 29 Scrims on 2km of river & solo expo at CIAC, Pont Aven, FRANCE
2005 –
Connected, Les Jardins de Rospico, In-Situ Installation, Nevez, (collaboration with France 3 TV), FRANCE
2004 –
3000 Décisions, Site-Specific Installation, 2004 – 2008, MassArt Kennedy Building Atrium, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Curatorial
2009 –
RAW, Root Division, curator & exhibitor, San Francisco, California, USA
Wonderland, Project Director & CENTS, Curator: Lance Fung, San Francisco, California, USA
2007 –
4 in 1, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, California, USA
Group & Collaborative Exhibitions – INCLUSIVE
2023 –
International LAND ART Symposium, VILLA CERNIGLIARO HISTORIC PARK, Zero Gravità, ITALY;
2022 –
CHANGWON Sculpture Biennale, Oct-Nov, SOUTH KOREA;
KER PONT-AVEN, installation, FRANCE;
CACTUS, 5ans DEJA, Oct-Nov, Quimper, FRANCE;
A4, Exposition Collective, Mars – Septembre, Pont Aven FRANCE
2020 –
Artistes au Jardin, CACTUS, 2 salles, Quimper, FRANCE
2019 –
Dinner Party, I-Park Site Responsive Art Biennale, I-Park Foundation, CT, USA
2018 –
Old Growth Memorial, Semi-permanent installation, I-Park Foundation, CT, USA
Division, pop-up exhibit, Concierge Library, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, PUERTO RICO;
Man Mountain, Golf Triennial, arte_FITS.FOUNDATION, Dorado Beach, a Ritz Carlton Reserve, PUERTO RICO;
John Melvin & Anna Macleod, Pop-up exhibit, Elsewhere Studios, Paonia, CO, USA;
Arts & Society. Redline Contemporary Arts Center, Denver, CO, USA;
SART Spring Show with Open Studio of John K Melvin, Siena Art Institute, ITALY
Mohawk Valley Mini Maker Faire, After Party, EntroTree, Sculpture Space, Utica, NY, USA
Works in Progress Reception, Sculpture Space, Utica, NY, USA
2017 –
How Many Trees, with Anna Norton, Old Edwards, Highlands, North Carolina, USA
Green Festival, Meta House Gallery, Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA
RESIST, Conrad Wilde Gallery, Tucson, Arizona, USA
2015 –
Senza Confini, Campi Flegrei Land Art Festival, Lago Averno, ITALY
KYDA, Collaboration for GogolFest, Kiev, UKRAINE
Anacortes Juried Art Show, Juror: Stefano Catalini (BAM), Washington, USA
2014 DARK, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, California, USA
SANTORINI BIENNALE, 2nd edition, Curator: Kikos Papadopulos; GREECE
HUMUS PARK, Land Art Biennale, Pordenone, ITALY
SUVA Faculty Show, Florence Quater Gallery, Tucson, Arizona, USA
2012 –
LaGrange National Biennial XVII, LaGrange Art Museum, Georgia, USA
Gallery 110 Annual Juried Exhibition, Curator: Nora Atkinson, Seattle Washington, USA
2011 Museum of Pocket Art 1st Retrospective, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
2009 –
Fresh Young Things, Jay Jay Gallery, Sacramento, California, USA
Transformations Fragiles, L’Atelier de la Gare, Locminé, FRANCE
SFAI MFA Vernissage, Herbst Pavilion, Ft. Mason, San Francisco, California, USA
Z-Axis, Curators: E.Araujo & R.Campbell; Lobot Gallery, Oakland, California, USA
Everything for Nothing or Something, Curator: Stephanie Dodes, Ever Gold Gallery, San Francisco, California, USA
Aurora Borealis Art Experience, Curator: Nick Miller, SFAI Courtyard, San Francisco, California, USA
Soft Transgressions, Curator: D.Daedalus, 2565 3rd St, San Francisco, USA
2008 –
Dream On! Mission 17, San Francisco, USA
Weather Reconnaissance, Garage Biennale, J.Hoover; The Garage, San Francisco, USA
Art for Kid’s Sake, Charity Auction, San Francisco, USA
Y-Axis, Collaborative Installation, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Root Division’s 7th Auction, Root Division, San Francisco, USA
Drawing Show, Curators: C.Jackel & R.Minervini, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Continuing MFA Show, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Transformations, Curator: Barry Beach, Clara Street Projects, San Francisco, USA
Lucky Number 7, Santa Fe Biennale, Hiroshi Fujisan’s Opera Project participant, New Mexico, USA
Art&Language, Group Show curated by Laura Poppiti, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Wilderness, Group Show curated by Ben Echeveria, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Reflection(s), Collaborative Installation, Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2007 –
City Traffic, group show, Swell Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Printmaking Currents 2007, national juried exhibition, Print Arts Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA
2006 –
Pont Aven Group Show, Mack B Gallery, Sarasota, Florida, USA
Convergence, curated by Nana Gregory; Tolbooth Art Gallery, Kirkudbright, SCOTLAND
2005 –
Telethon, Nationwide Charity Fundraiser, FRANCE, www.telethon.fr
Obsessions, curated by Nana Gregory; CIAC Gallery, Pont Aven, FRANCE
Chez Yannig, Artistes Collective, Quimper, FRANCE
Spartz of Arts, CIAC Gallery, Pont Aven, FRANCE
ENCRAGE, Drawing Marathon & Expo, L’Association CONTREPOIDS, Duarnenez, FRANCE
Expo PSCA – Post Bac Group Show, CIAC Gallery, Pont Aven, FRANCE
2004 –
South Boston Open Studios, The Distillery, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Massachusetts College of Art Senior show, group show, Boston, USA
Massachusetts College of Art All School show (juried exhibition), group show, Boston, USA
Perspectives Gallery, two-person show, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2003 –
South Boston Open Studios, The Distillery, Massachusetts, USA
Massachusetts College of Art Final Show, group show, Boston, USA
Selected Publications
Simposio Internazionale di Land Art, Villa Cernigliaro, Segnonline, publie 30/04/2023, https://segnonline.it/events/simposio-internazionale-di-land-art-a-villa-cernigliaro/
Simposio Internazionale di Land Art, Villa Cernigliaro Parco e Giardini Storici 2023, Il Giornale.ch, publie 03/05/2023, https://www.ilgiornale.ch/index.php/cultura/19445-simposio-internazionale-di-land-art-villa-cernigliaro-parco-e-giardini-storici-2023
Pont-Aven. Quatre artistes ouvrent une galerie-atelier, rue des Abbes-Tanguy, Ouest France, publie 15/04/2022, https://www.ouest-france.fr/bretagne/pont-aven-29930/quatre-artistes-ouvrent-une-galerie-atelier-rue-des-abbes-tanguy-87d614fc-b786-11ec-b6a9-81edcb1c0329
Le nouvel atelier-galerie A4 reunit quatre artistes, Telegramme, 06/04/2022, https://www.letelegramme.fr/finistere/pont-aven/a-pont-aven-le-nouvel-atelier-galerie-a4-reunit-quatre-artistes-06-04-2022-12976019.php
L’art contemporain s’invite dans des jardins de Quimper, Ouest-France, Publié le 11/10/2020
McArthur, Claire, Sculpting in the Sierra: Artist residence accueille des sculpteurs du monde entier, Tahoe Magazine, Summer 2020 Print & Online, https://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/sculpting-in-the-sierra/
Hasani, Maysa, “P-LAST-IC”, Destination KSA, Saudi Arabia, SEPT/OCT 2019
Zhu Lin, “Travel with Purpose”, Noblesse Magazine, China, September 2019
Dao, Dan, “Climate Week 2019: This Artist’s Eco Sculptures Are Sending A Powerful Message To Global Travel Industry”, Forbes, September 23, 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/dandao/2019/09/23/john-k-melvin-eco-artist-conrad-maldives/#6497c0384832
Lester, Jennifer, “How A Hotel In The Maldives Is Fighting Plastic Pollution”, Forbes, September 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestravelguide/2019/07/24/how-a-hotel-in-the-maldives-is-fighting-plastic-pollution/#3d33f3fa4687 and https://stories.forbestravelguide.com/how-a-hotel-in-the-maldives-is-fighting-plastic-pollution
Arte Fits Foundation, Modo de Vida, 02.19, p72-78
Frank, Peter. “At the Reopened Dorado Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, Themes of Ruination and Rebirth”, Surface Magazine, December 17, 2018, https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/dorado-beach-reopens-in-puerto-rico/
Eldridge, Davin. “Art Imitates Life In Highlands: Public Installation Raises Awareness Of Environment.” BPR (National Public Radio Affiliate). N.p., 10 July 2017. Web. 09 Aug. 2017.
Marshall, Alli. “Old Edwards Hospitality partners with visual artists for eco-awareness project, “How Many Trees?”.” Mountain Xpress. N.p., 14 June 2017. Web. 09 Aug. 2017.
“”How Many Trees?” Indeed.” Capital At Play. N.p., 04 July 2017. Web. 09 Aug. 2017.
Mark Tilly, “Art to show environment problems”, The Khmer Times, April 21, 2017
Michelle Vachon, “Artist Upcycles Trash Dumped at Angkor Into Sculptures”, The Cambodia Daily, April 4, 2017,
“Artist Recycles Bottles into Decoration”, ENN 20/3/2017, http://enn-news.com/archives/14500
Hang Savyout, “American man recycling plastic bottles to become a decoration”, Radio Free Asia , 2017-03-20,
GILLES MASSÉ, “Vernissage de l’EvoCrawler”, Nice-Matin (Cannes), July 19th, 2016, CAN B1, p22
“Sculpture Resident Artist Announced at The Bascom in Highlands”, NC, Carolina Arts, April 2016, p28
Land Art: le opera nella natura diventano un evento sociale, IL-MATTINO, Nazionale, October 4, 2015, p43
HUMUS PARK, Undo.net, May 31, 2014, http://www.undo.net/it/mostra/177902
Prime Visite guidate a Humus Park, Messaggero di Pordenone, June 7th, 2014, p26
Anna Castellari, HUMUS Park, NEURA MAGAZINE, #69, June 2014, p20
Erica Marson, DALLA NATURA ALL ‘UOMO ALLA NATURA, OTTAGONO, 272 – 7/1/2014, p16-25, p21
“ArtPrize 2011 begins”, Wood TV, Sept. 22, 2011
Matt Gade, “Nailing an entry for Artprize”, AP / Detroit News. Sept. 17, 2011: front page, Metro Final
Heather Knight, “Wonderland brightens Tenderloin, artists’ spirit”, San Francisco Chronicle. Nov. 8, 2009, C1&2
Foster, Tim., “Fresh Young Things: New Talent from Northern California”, Midtown Monthly. July 2009: 24
Shafiee, Shoka, “Getting Fresh”, Sacramento News and Reviews, d’art picks section. July 9, 2009: 3
“Picked Fresh from the Field of Fine Art: Seeds of Major Talent on Display at JAYJAY Show for Recent Grads”., The Sacramento Bee, Weekend Ticket Section. July 17, 2009: 8-9
Beltran, JD., “Freshly Varnished and Ready for Their Close Up”, SFGATE: City Brights, Art and Culture Fix, May 20, 2009: www.sfgate.com
Ewart, Nancy., “MFA and Morandi”, Bay Area Art Quake: MFA and Morandi, May 25, 2009: baartquake.blogspot.com
The Kowbott Workshop: John K Melvin Artworks; marcusprize.blogspot.com, 2008
Ann Albrighton, Sculpture, September 2007, Aven Project Review
Cyrille Maguer, Chroniques du Pays de Pont-Aven, Editions Alan Sutton 2007
France 3, June 16th, 2006, Television documentary on the Aven Project Art. Un rêve Américan flotte sur Pont-Aven », Le Télégramme, 26 Janvier 2006, SUD, page 10
France 3, January 15th, 2006, Television program on Breton culture, and Artists working with nature (Rospico Installation)
Internships
2009 – Artist Assistant to Patrick Dougherty, Upper Crust, California, USA
2008 – Lance Fung curatorial Intern for Lucky Number 7, SITE 2008 Biennale, New Mexico, USA
Employment History (abbreviated)
JKMBUILT
Sole Proprietor, Creative Design Services Jan 2005 – Present
JKMBUILT is Melvin’s Creative Design Service Company. Specializing in custom design, fabrication services, exhibition logistics, curatorial services, art commissions, consulting and portfolio website management.
Artech
Art Handler 2015
Full time position transporting, installing, and preparing fine art works for private clients, art fairs, and museums in the Pacific Northwest region of the US.
Southwest University of Visual Art
Core Faculty Position 2013- 2014
Full time faculty position responsible for full credit teaching load in addition to academic administration needs, curriculum, facility improvement, advising, team management, staffing, etc. Classes taught were in photography, graphic design, illustration, sculpture, foundations, and graduate seminars.
Farrow Fine Art
Chief Fabricator/Artist Assistant/Assistant Conservator June 2009 – July 2012
Chief fabricator for artist Al Farrow; http://alfarrow.com/reliquaries/. Craftsmanship required museum quality metal and mixed media fabrication skills. Additional responsibility included restoration of notable sculptural works such as Sol Lewitt, Tony Smith, Anselm Kiefer and George Rickey.
Fung Collaboratives, 140 Sullivan St, NYC, NY
Project Director September 2008 – December 2009
Fung Collaboratives is an international curatorial organization with experience such as: the Snow Show at the 2006 Winter Olympics; Lucky Number Seven, Santa Fe’s 2008 Biennial; and Wonderland SF, 2009. As Project Director, the position managed and coordinated Wonderland SF in addition to planning, organization and installation of other projects, national and international.
San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) Teaching Assistantships:
Teaching Assistantships, multiple and concurrent Jan 2008 – May 2009
Overlapping assistantships with different professors (Richard Berger, Lance Fung, & ) and pedagogies, position required an intense level of coordination and management. Graduate and Undergraduate levels were taught independently under supervision of the professor. Pedagogies ranged from basic sculpture foundation studies (metal, wood, plaster, etc) to conceptual and collaborative exercises at the graduate level. Typical to art education, actively leading critiques, lectures and workshops were delivered to the high standards expected by San Francisco Art Institute.
Pont Aven School of Contemporary Art
Teaching Assistant / Printshop Studio Manager May 2005 – Dec 2006
Teaching Assistant and Facility Management at an American art school located in Pont Aven, France. Responsibilities included: teaching assistant in all classes; gallery assistant; curating/placing group expositions; internal graphic design/illustration; facility maintenance; workshops, demonstrations, and technical advice in the printmaking and sculpture studios.
Prior Experience 1994-2004
Executive Asst, Engineer Asst, Law Clerk, Campaign Associate, Marketing Representative, Office Associate, Line Supervisor, Material Handling, Construction
Additional experience and references available upon request
