Artist Statement and Bio

The artist’s drive to save anything and everything can result in what looks like a mass of dead peoples’ things. My sense is that each item is imbued with the spirit of the people who I associate with it. A dead bird, found in the attic when cleaning up my dead grandmother’s possessions. The bones of an animal that served as food for those who lived here before me. The discarded evidence of machinery and industry that made people think they had finally found prosperity. I wish I could hear the stories from those who lived them. Instead, I recreate them from my memory or imagination, inserting little things that hold meaning for me. Now I can be a part of this conversation.

Born in New Jersey in 1973, Melanie Vasa received her BA in Studio Art in 1996. After working as a photo librarian for a paparazzo and a major sports organization as well as an assistant photo editor for a television magazine, she returned to school to receive her Teacher of Art certificate and has been an art educator in the NJ public school system since 1999. She received her MA in Studio Art with a concentration in Metals and Jewelry from New Jersey City University in 2008. She works in a variety of media – photography, printmaking, book arts, sculpture, metalwork, and jewelry – and in most cases, the intention determines the medium. Much of the material consists of found objects, dug up on her gardening missions. Her work has been exhibited in galleries across the United States, in Europe, and online. Since becoming a full time educator, she has taught Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, and started and continues to run her school’s Gender and Sexualities Alliance. She currently teaches at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, NJ, reviving that school’s photography program to record numbers and works to introduce ideas and processes of equity, sustainability, and cooperation in her classes. Melanie lives in Boonton, NJ with her two black cats.

Art Exhibitions and Honors

Open Theme, Art Collide, https://art-collide.com/fall-open-theme-2025, Fall 2025 juried group exhibition.

Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 3, The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2024 by Malin Fabbri, October 2024.

Core, Aedra Fine Art Catalogue, 2024 juried group exhibition.

Only Rejected Works Gallery, online feature, July 2024.

Nostalgia, Azalea Arts, https://www.azaleaartscommunity.com/nostalgia, July 1 – September 1 2024 juried online group exhibition.

Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2, The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2023 by Malin Fabbri, October 2023.

Scene and Meaning PH21 Gallery, Valid Word Hall, Barcelona, Spain, March 20 – 27, 2023 group exhibition

Art, Activision, & Education Gardenship, Kearny, NJ, September 17, 2022 one woman show with music performances by Kevin Norton and Julia Sane Simoniello

Loosen Art – Transitions and Displacements Millepiani Gallery, Rome Italy 2020, group exhibition

14th Pollux Awards Gallery Foto Nostrum, Barcelona, Spain March, 2020, honorable mention

21st International Open Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL  August – September, 2018 juried group exhibition

Relishing Restraint Loft Artists Association, Stamford, CT  August – September, 2018  group exhibition

Nasty Women Art Exhibition Knockdown Center, Queens, NYC  January 2017 group exhibition

Generations X A.I.R. Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NYC  December 2015 invitational group exhibition

Home Zufall Health Center, Dover, NJ  2014 group exhibition

The Art of Travel Photography PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, VT 2014 group exhibition

Generations IX A.I.R. Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NYC  December 2013 invitational group exhibition

Wish You Were Here A.I.R. Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NYC Summer 2011 group exhibition

Generations VIII A.I.R. Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NYC  December 2011 invitational group exhibition

The Perfect Fit:  22nd Annual NJ Small Works Show, Mikhail Zakin Gallery, the Art School at Old Church, Demarest, NJ, June 10-July 8, 2011, juried exhibition

Teaching Artists, SpeakEasy Gallery, Boonton, NJ, May 27-June19, 2011, group exhibition

9×12 Works, Budapest & AIR/HMC Exhibit Ferencvarosi Pincegallery, Budapest, Hungary, May 26-June 19, 2011 juried exhibition

12th Annual Photographic Processes Upstream People Gallery http://www.upstreampeoplegallery.com, September 2010-August, 2011, online juried exhibition

Art Kudos 2010 http://www.artkudos.com, International Juried Art Competition & Exhibition

The Color Red http://www.softcanvas.com, Spring 2010 juried exhibition

Sculpted Desotorow Gallery, Savannah, GA  March 2010  juried exhibition

Magic Silver 2010 Eagle Gallery, Murray State University, KY  January 2010   juried exhibition

Generations VII A.I.R. Gallery, Chelsea, NYC  December 2009 invitational group exhibition

Snap to Grid LACDA, Los Angeles, CA  November 2009  group exhibition

Hot New Pics Center Gallery, Wichita, Kansas  November 2009 juried exhibition

Small Works BIG idea APW Gallery, Long Island City, NYC September 2009 group exhibition

Dwellings Still Point Gallery, Maine Summer 2009 juried exhibition

Post – MA Exhibition New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ May 2009 two-woman exhibit

In Your Dreams Pen and Brush Gallery, NYC April 2009 juried exhibition

Continuum George Segal Gallery, MSU, Upper Montclair, NJ Mar. – Apr. 2009 juried exhibition

Paper In Particular Columbia College, Columbia, MO Jan. – Feb. 2009 juried exhibition

Wish You Were Here A.I.R. Gallery, Chelsea, NYC Summer 2008 group exhibition

Generations VI A.I.R. Gallery, Chelsea, NYC March 2008 invitational group exhibition

Art House Productions Cosi Restaurant, Jersey City February 2008 two-woman exhibit

Mini-Mania II Rahway Arts Guild May 2007 curated group exhibition

AENJ Educator’s Art Exhibit Haledon Public Library May 2007 group exhibition

AENJ Educator’s Art Exhibit James Howe Gallery, Kean University June 2005, 2006

Semi-Annual Student Photo Exhibition Student Union Building, JCSC, Jersey City February, 1997

Fresh Perspectives The Morris Museum, Morristown Aug.-Sept., 1991

Morris County Teen Arts Festival County College of Morris, Randolph Spring, 1991

Third Annual Student Art Show Blackwell Street Center for the Arts, Inc., Dover, NJ February, 1991 Honorable Mention