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, Luke McGregor, Fiona O'Loughlin, 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 President in 2020 and 2016.

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

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, Art Bar, Kiama NSW

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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

Prizes >
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.

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