MELISSA RITCHIE
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About Melissa Ritchie.

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Melissa Ritchie is an Australian based visual artist, who is well known for her unique portraits.

Most recently, Melissa Ritchie has established herself as a painter of comedians, having painted Rhys Nicholson, Nazeem Hussain, Urzila Carlson, Luke McGregor, Fiona O'Loughlin, Akmal Saleh, Susie Youssef, Matt Okine, Arj Barker plus a number of other stand up comedians.


Melissa is also known for her realist style still life paintings featuring a colourful array of everyday objects.

ARTIST STATEMENT
My portraits are often a satirical celebration of the sitter. Influenced by graphic art and vintage design, I portray a sitter's personality by painting them in a role or genre, often fictional, that mirror elements of their own true life character. I like to think of myself as the Annie Leibovitz of portrait painting.

My still life paintings are careful composition full of allegories, which capture a moment in time where all represented items are meaningful beyond the composition. Many of  my still life paintings feature a piece of folded paper or origami alongside modern everyday objects and heirlooms that pay homage to the nostalgia of childhood.

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Predominately an oil painter, Melissa Ritchie has been a finalist in many of Australia's art prizes including the Archibald Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Award, Kilgour Prize, Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Lester Prize (formerly Black Swan), Brisbane Portrait Prize and the Percival Portrait Prize.

Melissa Ritchie has also been a featured artist on the international TV series "Colour in Your Life", giving her a world wide fan base.

Born in Georgia, USA, Melissa grew up in Australia and paints from her Illawarra based studio on the NSW South Coast.


Melissa is a member of the Illawarra Association for the Visual Arts (IAVA), an organisation that supports and promotes contemporary visual artists from the Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Wingecarribee regions. Melissa has been activivley involved on the IAVA Committee, since joining the organisation in 2014, acting as current President since 2020 and 2016.

Melissa's artwork is available to purchase via BlueThumb Online or by contacting Melissa.
 ARTIST'S CV

2025
Crossing Paths - The White Cottage Gallery, Retford Park, Bowral NSW
International Women’s Day Exhibition, Wollongong NSW
Art in Unexpected Places - Shellharbour City, NSW

2024
The Island & the Bridge - Illustrated Book Publication
Tim Copes Portrait Prize, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
Art Sur Papier, Tiliqua Tiliqua Gallery, Enmore  NSW
The Agency Still Life Art Prize, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
International Women’s Day Exhibition, Wollongong NSW
RESOLVE - IAVA Group exhibition, The Corner Gallery, Stanmore, NSW
Small Works Art Prize, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC


2023
BlueThumb Art Prize, online exhibition
Passage of Time - IAVA Group exhibition, Clifton School of Arts, NSW
The Agency Still Life Prize - Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
Affordable Art Fair Sydney, Randwick Racecourse, NSW

Thirroul Seaside Arts Festival, Thirroul NSW
Nosila Portrait Prize, Wollongong NSW
Reach - IAVA Group exhibition, Gallery Lane Cove, NSW

International Women's Day Exhibition, Wollongong NSW
Still Life Painting Prize, Project Contemporary Art Space, Wollongong NSW
Small Works Art Prize, Brunswick Street Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
NEAP ACB Selects Exhibition, Michael Reid Online


2022​
NEAP ACB Selects Exhibition, Michael Reid Online
Travelling On, Clifton School of Arts, Clifton NSW
Brisbane Portrait Prize, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane, QLD

BlueThumb Art Prize, online exhibition
Copes Family Portrait Prize, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
National Capital Art Prize - Open selection, Canberra ACT
DIVERGENCE Exhibition (IAVA) - m2 Gallery, Surry Hills NSW
The Agency Still Life Prize - Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
SPLASH! Gap Exhibition (IAVA) - Old Firestation Gallery, Kiama NSW
Expander STILL LIFE, Stala Contemporary, Perth WA
Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville QLD
Postcodes from the Edge, Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong NSW
International Women's Day Exhibition, Wollongong NSW

2021
Doug Moran National Portrait Prize (Semi Finalist)
TEN - IAVA anniversary exhibition, Clifton School of the Arts, Clifton NSW
BlueThumb Art Prize, online exhibition
Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington QLD

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2020
Uralla Gallery Collection, Uralla Gallery, Uralla, NSW
Collectors Choice Exhibition, Artsite Gallery, Camperdown, NSW
Summer Vibe Group Exhibition, The Space Gallery, Rosebery, NSW
BlueThumb Art Prize, online exhibtion.
Fisher's Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown Art Centre, Campbelltown, NSW
Calleen Art Award, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Cowra NSW
​John Copes Portrait Prize, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
Kilgour Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle NSW
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award, Bega Valley Art Gallery, Bega NSW
Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington QLD
Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery, Townsville QLD

2019
Solo Exhibition, Little Blowhole Art Bar, Kiama NSW
Brisbane Portrait Prize, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane, QLD
Out of the Illawarra 2019, A collection of Contemporary Art, Fountain Court Gallery, Parliament House, Sydney NSW
Kilgour Prize, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle NSW
Small Works Art Prize - Brunswick Art Gallery, Fitzroy, VIC
Pirtek Still Life Award, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
SBS Portrait Prize, Mornington, VIC
Strong Women, Art Bar, Kiama NSW
Illawarra Locals, Artsite Gallery, Camperdown NSW
Locals on Board, Wollongong Art Gallery, Wollongong NSW

2018
Eutick Memorial Still Life Award (EMSLA), Wollongong NSW
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award, Bega Valley Art Gallery, Bega NSW
John Copes Portrait Prize, Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW
Kangaroo Valley Art Prize, Arts in the Valley, Kangaroo Valley, NSW
Kennedy Art Prize, Royal South Australia Society of Arts, Adelaide, SA
Timber Mill Bats for Will, Timber Mill Studios, Bulli, NSW
IAVA NOW, Wollongong Art Gallery NSW
Strong Women Exhibition, Art Bar, Kiama NSW


​2017
Portia Geach Memorial Award, Sydney NSW
Out of the Illawarra 2017, A collection of Contemporary Art, Fountain Court Gallery, Parliament House, Sydney NSW
Feast, An IAVA group exhibition, Belconnen, ACT

2016
Archibald Prize, Sydney NSW
Postcodes from the Edge Exhibition- Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong NSW
Belonging - An exhibition of Contemporary Art, Wollongong NSW
Pirtek Still Life Award, Bowral NSW
Percival Portrait Painting Prize, Townsville QLD
City of Ryde, Women's Art Prize, Meadowbank NSW
Mardi Gras Regional Art Prize, Kiama NSW
Thirroul Seaside Arts Festival, Thirroul NSW

2015
Kilgour Art Prize, Newcastle NSW
Portia Geach Memorial Award, Sydney NSW
50::50 An IAVA Showcase - Project Contemporary Artspace, Wollongong NSW
Scarborough Art Show, Scarborough NSW
Out of the Illawarra, A collection of Contemporary Art, Fountain Court Gallery, Parliament House, Sydney NSW
Underpinning - The Hanging Space gallery, Woonona NSW
Exhibition 10 - Matthew Gillett Gallery, Scarborough NSW

2014
Transmissions - An IAVA Showcase - Project  Artspace, Wollongong NSW
Black Swan Prize for Portraiture - St Georges Terrace, Perth WA
James Kiwi Watercolour Prize - Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong NSW
Contemporary Watercolour Prize - Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong NSW
Flanagan Art Prize, Ballarat VIC
Sunshine Coast Art Prize, Caloundra QLD
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize, Bega NSW
Thirroul Seaside Arts Festival, Thirroul NSW
Postcodes from the Edge Exhibition- Wollongong City Gallery, Wollongong NSW
IAVA New Member Exhibition - The Hanging Space gallery, Woonona NSW

2013
Popsters. A Collection of Pop Art Portraiture (Solo) - Art Arena, Wollongong NSW
RAW Translations - Wollongong Town Hall
Live Sites in the City - Wollongong Central, Wollongong NSW
RAS Art Show - Sydney Olympic Park, NSW
International Woman's Day Exhibition - Art Arena, Wollongong NSW

2012
RAS Art Show, Sydney Olympic Park NSW
Port Stephens Art Prize, Nelson Bay NSW

Awards
2022 > Postcodes from the Edge - Second Prize Winner
2019 > Pirtek Still Life Prize - Highly Commended
2019 > SBS Portrait Prize - Highly Commended
2018 > John Copes Portrait Prize - Highly Commended
2016 > Postcodes from the Edge - First Prize Winner
2014 > International Women's Day - Creative Spirit Award Winner
2013 > RAS Art Prize - Highly Commended

Collections 
Wollongong Art Gallery
Corn Mill Gallery
Private Collections (National and International)

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