Morgan Melenka is a visual artist based in Calgary. She uses architectural forms and materials to engage with history and place.
Her 2023 shows include "A provisional vista" at the Esker Foundation’s Project Space and the group exhibition "The Mall" at the Mitchell Art Gallery at MacEwan University. She was recently interviewed by Nadia Kurd for a Peripheral Review publication: "Walking Through Nonsuch: A Conversation with Morgan Melenka".
She teaches visual art and is a scenic painter for film and television.
EDUCATION:
2019: Master of Fine Arts, NSCAD University, Halifax
2014: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Alberta, Edmonton
UPCOMING:
2025: Honed to irrelevant shine, Arprim, Montreal QC
2024: Nonsuch, Leighton Art Centre, Millarville, AB
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS:
2023: A provisional vista, The Esker Foundation Project Space, Calgary AB
2022: Nonsuch, Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton AB
2021: There are no walls, only shimmering membranes, SAAG Art Library, Lethbridge AB
2019: delaminate; Masters Thesis Exhibition - The Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax NS
2018: Public Works. Collaboration with Alex Linfield - The Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax NS
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2023: The Mall, Mitchell Art Gallery, MacEwan University, Edmonton
2021: Activate, The Works Art & Design Festival, Edmonton AB “Slippery When Read”, collaborative project with Alex Linfield
2021: The Scene, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton AB
2021: moveObjects On, Plumb Gallery, Toronto ON
2020: Castles of Butter; Building in Uncertainty, Lowlands Gallery, Edmonton AB Curated by Steven Teeuwsen
2020: Washed Over, Puertografico, SGCI Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2019: The politics of too many dinner parties, Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness County, NS
2018: This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things; MFA Group Show - The Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax NS
2018: Decidedly So - North Main St Gallery, Salem NY USA
2018: NSCAD/ACAD Print Exchange Exhibition - the Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax NS
2017: Ladder Training; MFA group exhibition - the Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax NS
2017: Hour Glaze - Dc3 Gallery, Edmonton AB, Curators Megan Gnanasihamany, Tegan Bowers and Susan Winters
2016: Between Among and Away - DC3 Gallery, Edmonton AB
2015: Prints in Peculiar Places - Southern Graphics Conference International, Knoxville TN USA
2014: Nebraska National Collegiate Juried Art Exhibition - Eisentrager-Howard Gallery, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE USA
2014: Affinities: Bachelor of Fine Arts Graduation Exhibition - FAB Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
2013: Fluence - Rutherford Library South, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
2013: Too Close for Comfort - Women and Gender Studies Gallery, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
PUBLIC ART:
2020: Edmonton Arts Council; West Valley LRT Line Concrete Ramp Designs
2018: the Airport Project, temporary public work at Stanfield International Airport, Halifax NS
2018: Foundation, semi-permanent sculpture in Cary Hill Sculpture Park, Salem NY USA
2017: Elsie McLuhan Mural, McLuhan House, ArtsHab, Edmonton AB (Tennis Club)
CURATORIAL:
2022: The Equivalence of Alloyed Gold, Critical Distance, Toronto ON, Curatorial Project with Megan Gnanasihamany
GRANTS:
2021: Canada Council for the Arts; Concept to Realization: Nonsuch
2020: Edmonton Arts Council; Creator’s Reserve
2020: Edmonton Arts Council; Travel Grant
2019: Canada Council for the Arts; Arts Abroad - Residencies: Vorres Museum 2019 Residency, Paiania Greece
2018: Canada Council for the Arts; Arts Abroad - Residencies: Edmonton to Salem Residency, organized by Vanessa Mastronardi
2017: Alberta Foundation of the Arts; Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Grant: 1st Year Masters of Fine Art at NSCAD
2016: Alberta Foundation of the Arts; Visual Arts Grant in Visual Art and New Media Project Grant: For God’s Sake Kate, Where is the Camera?, as a member of Tennis Club
2015: Alberta Foundation of the Arts; Visual Arts and New Media Individual Project Grant: Greetings from Knoxville, with Alex Linfield
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS:
2019: NSCAD Travel Scholarship to install Curated MFA Group Exhibition, Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness County
2019: NSCAD Travel Scholarship to present at Southern Graphics Conference International in Dallas TX USA
2018: NSCAD Travel Scholarship to attend New York City Print Week, New York City, NY USA
2018: Reznick Family Fund Scholarship for do it exhibition at the Anna Leonowens Gallery, NSCAD University, Halifax
2018 NSCAD Travel Scholarship to attend Southern Graphics Conference International, Las Vegas NV USA
2017: Laurel Woodcock Memorial Award
2013: Queen’s Golden Jubilee Scholarship for Visual Art
2013: Elizabeth Ann Burgess Award in Contemporary Art
RESIDENCIES:
2019: Vorres Museum 2019 Residency, Paiania, GR
2018: Edmonton to Salem Residency, Salem New York, funded by Canada Council for the Arts
2016-2017: McLuhan House Residency, as a member of Tennis Club, ArtsHab, Edmonton
2015-2016: Project Insertion Residency, Atelier Graff, Montreal
2013: Student Residency, Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton
REVIEWS:
2023: Nadia Kurd, Walking Through Nonsuch; A Conversation with Morgan Melenka, Peripheral Review June 18 2023
2019: Jon Claytor, Morgan Melenka at Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Akimbo Akimblog, March 27 2019
2016: Alison Cooley and Daniella Sanader, Gang up: 16 Great Canadian Art Collaborations, Canadian Art, Summer Issue (Tennis Club)
PUBLICATIONS :
2019: Morgan Melenka, 7012 Amber Maple, SNAPLine Fragility Issue Winter 2019
2018: Vanessa Mastronardi, Daniel Goodwin, Edmonton to Salem, residency catalogue, Salem NY
2017: Morgan Melenka, Renée Perrott, Marie Winters, Alyson Davies and Megan Gnanasihamany; eyedoll, Publication Studio, Edmonton
2016: Morgan Melenka, Mer, Essay for Nadine Bariteau’s Exhibition, Latitude 53, Edmonton
2015: Morgan Melenka and Alex Linfield, Greetings from Knoxville SNAPLine Summer Issue
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY:
2024: Sessional Instructor, Alberta University of the Arts. PRNT 101 & 312
2023: Sessional Instructor, Alberta University of the Arts. PRNT 212 & 101
2023: Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary, Calgary. ART 377 & 465.5
2023: Scenic Painter Painter, MGM Calgary AB
2022: Scenic Painter, Halmark Productions, Calgary AB
2021: Scenic Painter Painter, Bear and Pear Productions Inc, Calgary AB
2020 - 2021: Seminar Series Coordinator, Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton AB
2021: Sessional Instructor, MacEwan University, Edmonton: ARTE 111 2D Foundation
2020: Assistant Lecturer, University of Alberta, Edmonton: ART 322 – Introductory Studies I, Silkscreen
2020: Instructor, NSCAD University, Halifax NS: Introduction to Screen Printing 1500-1 and 1500-2, Introduction to Relief 1510-2
2017-2019: Teaching Assistant, NSCAD University, Halifax NS: Introduction to Screen Printing; Foundation in Contemporary Practice; Foundation Printmaking, Intermediate Litho and Silkscreen; Intermediate Sculpture
2019: Panel Chair, Material of the Immaterial at Southern Graphics Conference International, Dallas, TX USA
2018: Exhibition Coordinator, do it, Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax NS
2018: Artist Assistant, Kim Morgan, Halifax NS
2018: Artist Assistant, mural for Eleanor King at C.O.V.E, Dartmouth NS
2018: Artist Assistant, Ursula Johnson, Halifax NS
2017-2019: Press Assistant, NSCAD Lithography Workshop, Halifax NS
2016-2017: Display Coordinator, Anthropologie, Edmonton AB
2014-2015: Gallery Attendant; Enterprise Square Galleries, Museums and Collections, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
2015: Workshop Instructor; Silkscreen. Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton AB
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
2016-2017: Special Events Planning Committee, Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton AB
2013-2020: Volunteer, Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton AB
2015: Teaching Assistant; Silkscreen, copper and fabric. Society of Northern Alberta Print-Artists, Edmonton AB
2014: President; Visual Arts Student Association University of Alberta, Edmonton AB