Melissa Mattis

I Think We Should See Other People

Oil, whitetail deer hide, sinew, beads, thread, fabric on panel

"I use the imagery of deer and other wildlife found in various stages of death and decay to convey the intricate relationships surrounding dating, rejection, malice, challenging partnerships, and family dynamics. The deer serves as a personal metaphor for the feminine and emotional toll of difficult interactions…The intentional use of repurposed hides and handmade sinew echoes feminine sustainability and a connection to the natural world. Through this fusion, I aim to evoke empathy, contemplating the complexities of relationships while celebrating the strength it takes to transform a somber subject into a reflection on the resilience and beauty of working through interpersonal dynamics."

— Melissa Mattis

About the artist

Melissa Mattis

American

Melissa Mattis (b.1980) is a native Californian artist currently living in the Sacramento area. She attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in the late 90's and early 2000's where she majored in Fine Art painting and drawing. She was awarded "Best New Sculptor" in 2000 and "Best Abstract Painter" in 2008 at the Annual Academy of Art Spring Show. After attending the University she stepped away from her studio work to focus on family and small commission based work. Now Melissa has gotten back to her studio work focusing on more personal introspective work. She is heavily influenced by nature, wildlife, and interpersonal dynamics. While still primarily a oil painter, she has recently began to use textiles and found objects in her work.