ABOUT THE ARTIST

​

Melissa Arostegui's passion for storytelling, shapes, and colors started shaping her artistic journey from a young age. Her fascination with these elements sparked her creativity and set her on her path as an artist. She meticulously studied everyday objects in her early drawings and found joy in storytelling, even crafting a mock newspaper as a child. In college, her art was profoundly influenced by the works of artists like Elizabeth Murray, Alex Katz, and David Hockney, which is unmistakably reflected in her bold portraits and whimsical still life paintings.

After earning her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Melissa ventured into the art world, showcasing her talents in various exhibitions across Illinois. Notably, she held a solo exhibition at Air Studio & Gallery in Glencoe, entitled "Beyond the Surface: Assumptions Unveiled." Melissa's artwork also garnered attention beyond gallery walls, with features in Art & Beyond and Create magazine. In addition, her work was displayed on a banner on the streets of West Chicago.

Recent group exhibitions have showcased Melissa's work, including "Chromatic Convergence" at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago, "Refreshing Feminism" at the Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, and "Evolve.Women.Wisdom" at Long Hall Gallery in West Hollywood, California.