ARTIST STATEMENT
Remember when you were a child, creating artworks by cutting and pasting? Well, that’s what I do as an adult, and it’s just as fun and satisfying as it was when I was in kindergarten. I’m fascinated by grids, tessellations, and repeated shapes. I reinforce this repetition through colors and materials. Because patterns tend to be orderly and predictable, I like to add unexpected elements for humorous or ironic effect.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Melanie Deal’s paper collages and mixed-media works incorporate both predictable patterns and unexpected elements. Recent exhibitions include “Absurdity: In Dada We Trust” at Woman Made Gallery (Chicago), “Flower Power” at Gallery 901/Open Studio Project (Evanston), “Eyes Wide Open” at the Oak Park Art League (Oak Park), and “When Homeward You Turn” at Northwestern University’s Dittmar Gallery (Evanston). She lives in Evanston, Illinois.
© Melanie Deal