Born in Los Angeles, California, Melissa Marquardt has lived the majority of her life in southern California. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree with the emphasis in Visual Communications from California State University, Chico in 1991.

Melissa has always leaned towards being a creative. She is a self-taught artist who, only recently, started taking workshops and classes to expand her knowledge of techniques and processes. In the mid 1990s, Melissa painted residential murals and faux finishes. In 2002, she put the brushes down and worked almost exclusively as a freelance graphic designer allowing her to spend more time at home raising her two children with her husband Brett. Her focus in design was corporate identity, event branding and illustration in the fashion industry. In 2016, Melissa picked the brushes back up and has been creating contemporary abstract works that have been very well received by collectors all over the United States and internationally.

Melissa draws inspiration from the natural, earthy tones of the landscapes surrounding her home in Encinitas, California. From the rich blues and warm tans of the Pacific coastline to the golden grasses and deep greens of the lagoons, estuaries, and hillside trails she explores, her palette is deeply rooted in place. Working primarily with cold wax and oil, she builds up many opaque and translucent layers, then selectively removes or reworks them to reveal textures and marks that echo the organic shapes found in nature. This process allows each painting to develop its own quiet complexity and tactile history. Subtle metallic accents are occasionally introduced to catch light in unexpected ways, adding depth and movement. Melissa’s work is designed to harmonize with its environment—offering a serene, grounded presence that enhances a space rather than competing with it.

ARTIST STATEMENT

“My work is an ongoing exploration of texture, memory, and mood through the layering of wax, pigment, and other mixed media. I am drawn to the tactile possibilities of cold wax medium—its unique consistency allows me to smooth, blend, and make expressive marks while building surfaces that hold a quiet sense of depth. Each piece is composed of multiple layers, which I then dig back into, revealing fragments of what lies beneath. This process of excavation is both intentional and intuitive, echoing the way memories surface over time—partially obscured, yet always present.

I work with a soft, neutral, and organic color palette, embracing a minimalist aesthetic that supports the peaceful, serene moods I aim to convey. My intention is to create work that feels contemplative and grounded—offering a visual space where viewers can slow down and connect with a sense of stillness. While abstract in nature, my paintings are deeply rooted in the natural world and the emotional landscapes it evokes.

Each piece carries its own quiet history. The surfaces invite close looking, where subtle shifts in texture and tone become apparent, and where the past and present coexist within a single composition. I see the painting process not only as a means of expression, but as a conversation between material, memory, and mood.”

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education
Cold Wax Academy Workshops
Continuing Education
2022, 2023, 2025

Platt College
Certificate in Graphic Design
1992 – 1993

California State University, Chico
Bachelor of Arts, Emphasis in Visual Communications
1986 – 1991

Solo Exhibitions
F1VEart Studio & Gallery, “Unearthed” Solo Show // Point Loma, CA // 2024

Group Exhibitions
Showcase Gallery “Winter Imaginings” Group Show, 1st Place Winner in Acrylic // Santa Ana, CA // 2020
Del Mar Art Center Gallery, Group Show // Del Mar, CA // 2019-2020
Showcase Gallery “The Meridian of Wind” Group Show // Santa Ana, CA // 2019
ArtnSoul on 101, Group Show // Encinitas, CA // 2018
Ashton Gallery “Everything New” Group Show // San Diego, CA // 2018

Permanent Collection
Chateau d’Orquevaux International Artists & Writers Collection, Galerie Diderot // Orquevaux, France // 2024

Artist Residency
Chateau d’Orquevaux // Orquevaux, France // 2024

Memberships
Cold Wax Academy // Online Education
Oceanside Museum of Art, Artist Alliance // Oceanside, CA

Representation
Roam Homeware // La Jolla, CA

Select Juried Art Festivals

2024
Tempe Festival of Arts // Tempe, AZ
Mission Federal ArtWalk // San Diego, CA
Liberty Station ArtWalk // Point Loma, CA
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival // Mill Valley, CA
La Quinta Art Celebration // La Quinta, CA

2023
Kierland Fine Art & Wine // Scottsdale, AZ
Tubac Festival of the Arts // Tubac, AZ
Tempe Festival of Arts // Tempe, AZ
Mission Federal ArtWalk // San Diego, CA
Liberty Station ArtWalk // Point Loma, CA
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival // Mill Valley, CA
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival // La Jolla, CA

2022
Mission Federal ArtWalk // San Diego, CA
Laguna Art-A-Fair // Laguna Beach, CA
ArtWalk Liberty Station // Point Loma, CA
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival // Mill Valley, CA

2021
Mission Federal Art Walk // Little Italy, San Diego, CA
San Diego Festival of the Arts // Del Mar, CA
ArtWalk Liberty Station // Point Loma, CA
Laguna Art-A-Fair // Laguna Beach, CA
The Other Art Fair // The ROW, Los Angeles, CA

2020
Liberty Station ArtWalk // San Diego, CA

2019
Art San Diego, Contemporary Art Show // San Diego, CA
Carlsbad ArtWalk // Carlsbad, CA
Laguna Art-A-Fair // Laguna Beach, CA
Mission Federal ArtWalk // San Diego, CA

2018
Beverly Hills Art Show // Beverly Hills, CA
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival // La Jolla, CA
Carlsbad ArtWalk // Carlsbad, CA
Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival // Los Altos, CA
Beverly Hills Art Show // Beverly Hills, CA
Mission Federal ArtWalk Little Italy // San Diego, CA
Indian Wells Art Festival // Indian Wells, CA

2017
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival // La Jolla, CA
Liberty Station ArtWalk // San Diego, CA
San Diego Festival of the Arts // San Diego, CA
Mission Federal ArtWalk // San Diego, CA

2016
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival // La Jolla, CA
Leucadia ArtWalk // Encinitas, CA