Work & Direction
Melissa Young has been sculpting since 1993, she works generally in bronze and produces delicate figurative pieces. Melissa enjoys playing around with figures and objects, finding the right balance between the forms, seeing what works or doesn’t. “I think I have always had a knack for spatial awareness - I am the one who packs the luggage when we go away, maximizing the space available in the boot of our car”.
By default Melissa’s inspiration has come from her family… Since becoming a parent, parenthood, the antics of her family and finding the right work/life balance have provided her with a lot of material to draw from. Being creative has allowed Melissa to vent her frustrations in a very healthy way. “A lot of my work is a social commentary on (my) life”. When her pieces are ready to be cast, they are cast using the lost wax method.
Melissa lives and works in Island Bay, Wellington with her husband John and their young daughter. When she is not creating or nagging her family, Melissa enjoys having a free day to stay in her PJs and do absolutely nothing (or maybe read a book).
Background
1986-89 completed the Industrial Design course at Wellington Polytechnic.
1993 I began sculpting; from 1998 I actively started selling my work in galleries throughout New Zealand.
Awards
Wellington artist Melissa Young won first-equal place for her sculpture ‘Experience is the Mother of Knowledge’ in the
2002 Pacific Art Awards. The entrants were asked to respond to the theme of ‘Old Narratives, New Histories—Past,
Present and Future’. As a third generation Chinese born in New Zealand, Melissa chose to centre her work around the
family’s migration and the growth of the two cultures. Judges acclaimed her work as “exquisite and truly embracing of
the theme”.
Selected Exhibitions
2019
Saw Panel Artist The New Zealand Art Show 2019, Wellington.
Two person Exhibition ‘TEN’ with Cam Munroe at The Poi Room, Auckland
Three Person Exhibition ‘BALANCING ACT’ at Kina NZ Design + Artspace
with fellow Wellingtonian’s Sarah Wilkins & Camille Walton
2018
‘My View’ Three person exhibition at Ora Gallery, Wellington.
Saw Panel Artist The New Zealand Art Show 2018, Wellington.
2017
Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club ‘Art for the Sea’ Art Auction, Wellington.
Mini Exhibition at Kina, New Plymouth
A finalist in ‘Small Sculpture Prize’ Waiheke Community Art Gallery Waiheke Island
Timaru Plunket 40th Annual Art Show, Timaru
SAW panel artist ‘The New Zealand Art Show 2017’ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
‘Object Show’ group show at Gallery 33, Wanaka
King’s College Art Show, Auckland
2016
‘Through the Looking Glass’ group show Quirky Fox, Hawera
A finalist in ‘Small Sculpture Prize’ Waiheke Community Art Gallery Waiheke Island
‘Miramar Peninsular Arts Trail’ part of Artist Trail Weekend, Wellington
‘Soul Group Exhibtion’ Soul Gallery, Hamilton
SAW panel artist ‘The New Zealand Art Show 2016’ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
Riversdale Arts 43th Annual Exhibition invited artist, Riversdale, Southland
2015
‘Closed to Heart’ group exhibition Waiheke Community Art Gallery Waiheke Island
SAW panel artist ‘The New Zealand Art Show 2015’ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
‘Before and After’ 2 person show - with Liew Summers Form Gallery, Christchurch
‘Art in a Garden’ exhibited in, North Canterbury
2014
A finalist in ‘Small Sculpture Prize’ Waiheke Community Art Gallery Waiheke Island
Solo panel artist ‘New Zealand Art Show 2014’ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
‘The Art Sale’ Hamilton
‘NZ Sculpture onshore’ Fort Takapuna, Auckland
2013
'Focus on Sculpture’ A group show at Waiheke Community Art Gallery Waiheke Island
'New Zealand Art Show 2013 Launch Evening', Museum Art Hotel, Wellington
SAW panel artist ‘New Zealand Art Show 2013’ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
2012
Group Exhibition ‘Seven + 2’ The Artist Room, Dunedin
SAW panel artist ‘The New Zealand Art Show 2012’ TSB Bank Arena, Wellington
2011
A finalist in both the’The Small Sculpture Prize’ at Waiheke Community Art Gallery, Waiheke
Island and ‘Objective Art Awards 2011’ Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland
2010
‘Building Bridges’ 2 person exhibition Kina Gallery, New Plymouth
‘Matariki Exhibition’ invited guest artist, New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington
A finalist in ’Objective Art Award’, Mangere Arts Centre, Auckland
2009
‘4th Edition’, 2 person exhibition, The Poi Room, Auckland
‘50/50’ 2 person exhibition, Lesa Gallery, Petone, Wellington
2008
‘ARTillery’ group exhibition, Pataka, Porirua
‘Part II’ 2 person exhibition, The Poi Room, Auckland
2007
Group exhibition, Wine Country Gallery Havelock North
‘Precious Vessels’ 2 person exhibition, Emerge Gallery, Wellington
‘Object’ Group show Form Gallery, Christchurch
2006
‘New Works’ 2 person show, River East Gallery, Greytown
‘Misfits’ ARTillery group exhibition, Pataka, Porirua
2005
‘Waste Not Want Not’ Solo exhibition, Academy Galleries, Wellington
‘Domesticity’ ARTillery group exhibition, Idiom Gallery, Wellington
2004
‘ArtSingapore’ The Contemporary Asian Art Fair, Singapore
‘Painting the Domestic Goddess’ 2 person exhibition, Parnell Gallery, Auckland
‘Domestic Goddesses’ Solo exhibition, Emerge Gallery, Wellington
2003
‘Seaview’ Group show, The New Zealand Object Art exhibition, Singapore
‘Sculpture’ Group show, Parnell Gallery, Auckland
‘28 Pairs of Feet’ Solo exhibition, Academy Galleries, Wellington
2002
‘Pacific Art Awards 2002’ Group show, Art Station, Auckland
2001
‘98% Fat Free’ 2 person exhibition, Woodhouse Hill Gallery, Wellington
2000
‘Marine’ Group show, Sphere Gallery, Wellington
‘52 Naked Women & A Camel’ Solo exhibition, Sphere Gallery, Wellington
1998
‘Experimental’ Group exhibition, Queens Wharf Apartments, Wellington
