BIO

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Melanie Martinez is a social realist painter working primarily in oil. Her subject matter could be considered Americana with a twist. Like a reporter investigating a story, she seeks to understand relationships between communities, their residents, as well as their built and natural environment. The Who, What, Where, When, and Why.

 

Born in Austin, but raised in the nearby Army town of Killeen, Melanie knew to get back to Austin as soon as possible. Her passion for journalism led her to work as an editor and writer at several newspapers and magazines in Texas, Chicago, and Mexico City. Over the years, Melanie’s inquisitive nature has led her to work in horticulture, historic preservation, and interior design, as well as playing bass in a local band. Her deeply ingrained interest in bioregionalism, combined with the questioning nature of a reporter, inspires her work, no matter the medium or subject.

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CURRICULUM VITAE

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EDUCATION

              B.F.A. Studio Art, Painting, Spring 2020
                      Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

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              B.S. Family Consumer Science, Interior Design, Spring 2020
                      Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

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              B.A. Liberal Arts,  English (major) and American Studies (minor), Fall 1989
                       The University of Texas at Austin

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EXHIBITIONS           

              Austin Studio Tour Exhibition, Mexican Amerian Cultural Center 

                       Austin, Texas, November 2022

 

              Student Juried Exhibition, Texas State University Galleries,  July 2020

                        Curated by Ed Schad, Curator and Publications Manager at The Broad in Los Angeles

              B.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Texas State University, (Online) May 2020- Infinity

                       https://bfa2020.wp.txstate.edu/melanie-martinez/

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              Hallway Show, Texas State University, December 5-10, 2019
                        Curated by Tommy Fitzpatrick, Texas State University, Associate Professor, Studio Art: Painting

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PUBLICATIONS

               The New Southern Fugitives, "Killer,"  Vol. 3, Issue 9. March 2020 

               The New Southern Fugitives, "Affordable Housing,"  Vol. 3, Issue 6. February 2020 

               The New Southern Fugitives, "Domino's Delivers,"  Vol. 3, Issue 1. December 2019 

               Sunspot Literary Journal, "Saturday in the Park,"  Vol. 1, Issue 5. December 2019

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AWARDS & HONORS

               Alpha Chi Honor Society, Feb. 2018 to Present
               School of Art & Design Scholarship, Texas State University 2019-2020
   

INTERNSHIPS

                  Texas Historical Commission, Courthouse Preservation Program, Austin, Texas, Summer 2019

                          Researcher, Historic Interior Materials

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                 Serie Project XIV, Coronado Studio, Austin, Texas, Summer 2007
                         Serigraphy Apprenticeship with Master Printer Sam Coronado

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